Friday, July 4, 2025

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Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 2, 2025
Alex Benay, the associate deputy minister at Public Services and Procurement Canada in whose lap this mess has landed, estimated on June 23 that the cost of fixing and replacing Phoenix would be $5.1-billion, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 2, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | July 2, 2025
Alex Benay, the associate deputy minister at Public Services and Procurement Canada in whose lap this mess has landed, estimated on June 23 that the cost of fixing and replacing Phoenix would be $5.1-billion, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 25, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney
It remains to be seen whether Prime Minister Mark Carney's government can make all this work in a timeframe that complies with his refreshing, unconventional campaign to rapidly bring the country together to start building a stronger, more independent economy, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 25, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 25, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney
It remains to be seen whether Prime Minister Mark Carney's government can make all this work in a timeframe that complies with his refreshing, unconventional campaign to rapidly bring the country together to start building a stronger, more independent economy, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 18, 2025
Only five months into his new term, U.S. President Donald Trump has indeed moved quite a ways down the road to his own version of one-man rule, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Daniel Torok
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 18, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 18, 2025
Only five months into his new term, U.S. President Donald Trump has indeed moved quite a ways down the road to his own version of one-man rule, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Daniel Torok
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 11, 2025
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith would have been in her late teens when the Exxon Valdez forever changed the public attitude on pipelines on B.C.’s northern coast, so maybe she didn’t pay much attention, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Jim Brickett
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 11, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 11, 2025
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith would have been in her late teens when the Exxon Valdez forever changed the public attitude on pipelines on B.C.’s northern coast, so maybe she didn’t pay much attention, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Jim Brickett
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 4, 2025
Pierre Poilievre
One might indeed be forgiven for thinking Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is a bit focused on the rear-view mirror, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 4, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | June 4, 2025
Pierre Poilievre
One might indeed be forgiven for thinking Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is a bit focused on the rear-view mirror, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 28, 2025
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump’s last trip to Canada was for the G7 Leaders’ Summit in 2018. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 28, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 28, 2025
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump’s last trip to Canada was for the G7 Leaders’ Summit in 2018. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 21, 2025
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump seems to be entering into a more difficult phase in his unorthodox economic project, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Daniel Torok
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 21, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 21, 2025
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump seems to be entering into a more difficult phase in his unorthodox economic project, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Daniel Torok
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 14, 2025
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney has repeatedly stated he's willing to adopt a new approach to energy development, combining increased conventional oil production with climate mitigation tactics, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 14, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 14, 2025
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney has repeatedly stated he's willing to adopt a new approach to energy development, combining increased conventional oil production with climate mitigation tactics, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 7, 2025
Pierre Poilievre
It’s not clear what would motivate Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to back off the anti-Liberal crusade he has been profiting off of for years, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 7, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | May 7, 2025
Pierre Poilievre
It’s not clear what would motivate Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to back off the anti-Liberal crusade he has been profiting off of for years, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 30, 2025
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump can’t seem to get through a day in the Oval Office without reverting to his accusations about those freeloaders in Canada, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Daniel Torok
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 30, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 30, 2025
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump can’t seem to get through a day in the Oval Office without reverting to his accusations about those freeloaders in Canada, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Daniel Torok
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 23, 2025
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney greets supporters at a rally outside of the Lusitania Portuguese Club of Ottawa on April 20. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 23, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 23, 2025
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney greets supporters at a rally outside of the Lusitania Portuguese Club of Ottawa on April 20. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 16, 2025
Stephen Harper
The current Conservative leader’s campaign is taking on more and more aspects of former prime minister Stephen Harper’s politics, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 16, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 16, 2025
Stephen Harper
The current Conservative leader’s campaign is taking on more and more aspects of former prime minister Stephen Harper’s politics, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 9, 2025
Donald Trump
Within days of U.S. President Donald Trump’s April 2 announcement, most of the world was united in its criticism of his decision to wreck everyone’s economy, including his own, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 9, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 9, 2025
Donald Trump
Within days of U.S. President Donald Trump’s April 2 announcement, most of the world was united in its criticism of his decision to wreck everyone’s economy, including his own, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 2, 2025
Donald Trump
Dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump is like having a pet rattlesnake—as the whole world has learned the hard way, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 2, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | April 2, 2025
Donald Trump
Dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump is like having a pet rattlesnake—as the whole world has learned the hard way, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 26, 2025
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump seems unlikely to soon give up on his promise to wreck the economy of the land he now deems his country's worst enemy, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 26, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 26, 2025
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump seems unlikely to soon give up on his promise to wreck the economy of the land he now deems his country's worst enemy, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 19, 2025
Doug Ford
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the March 13 meeting with the U.S. commerce secretary was ‘productive,’ but he could be grasping at straws, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 19, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 19, 2025
Doug Ford
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the March 13 meeting with the U.S. commerce secretary was ‘productive,’ but he could be grasping at straws, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 12, 2025
Mark Carney
It hasn’t gone unnoticed that having a prime minister like Liberal Leader Mark Carney with economic skills, global awareness, and experience working with world leaders at the highest level on make-or-break issues might not be such a bad idea, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 12, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 12, 2025
Mark Carney
It hasn’t gone unnoticed that having a prime minister like Liberal Leader Mark Carney with economic skills, global awareness, and experience working with world leaders at the highest level on make-or-break issues might not be such a bad idea, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 5, 2025
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump’s Feb. 28 clash at the White House drove home what everyone has been struggling to process about Trump, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of YouTube/TheWhiteHouse
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 5, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | March 5, 2025
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump’s Feb. 28 clash at the White House drove home what everyone has been struggling to process about Trump, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of YouTube/TheWhiteHouse
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 26, 2025
For Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, the Feb. 24 call to action in Kyiv on behalf of Ukraine may be remembered as his best moment in nearly a decade in power, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 26, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 26, 2025
For Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, the Feb. 24 call to action in Kyiv on behalf of Ukraine may be remembered as his best moment in nearly a decade in power, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 19, 2025
Donald Trump
After a month of nearly daily threats of economically devastating tariffs, Canadians are beginning to accept the possibility that U.S. President Donald Trump actually does want to erase the Canada-U.S. border, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 19, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 19, 2025
Donald Trump
After a month of nearly daily threats of economically devastating tariffs, Canadians are beginning to accept the possibility that U.S. President Donald Trump actually does want to erase the Canada-U.S. border, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 12, 2025
Donald Trump
In Canada, U.S. President Donald Trump’s flailing about in his new king-of-the-world act has sparked a political upheaval unlike anything seen in decades, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Andrea Hanks
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 12, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 12, 2025
Donald Trump
In Canada, U.S. President Donald Trump’s flailing about in his new king-of-the-world act has sparked a political upheaval unlike anything seen in decades, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Andrea Hanks
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 5, 2025
Anita Anand
The work by Internal Trade Minister Anita Anand to overhaul the country’s internal trade blockages is the most obvious way to bolster the economy, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 5, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | February 5, 2025
Anita Anand
The work by Internal Trade Minister Anita Anand to overhaul the country’s internal trade blockages is the most obvious way to bolster the economy, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 29, 2025
Donald Trump
By re-electing Donald Trump, Americans have opened the way to the end of a world order centred on rules-based trade and democratic alliances that western countries have promoted and benefitted from throughout the postwar era, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Gage Skidmore
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 29, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 29, 2025
Donald Trump
By re-electing Donald Trump, Americans have opened the way to the end of a world order centred on rules-based trade and democratic alliances that western countries have promoted and benefitted from throughout the postwar era, writes Les Whittington. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Gage Skidmore
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 15, 2025
Donald Trump
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s expressed willingness to use force to erase the borders of sovereign countries signals an end to the fundamental principle of international order, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 15, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 15, 2025
Donald Trump
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s expressed willingness to use force to erase the borders of sovereign countries signals an end to the fundamental principle of international order, writes Les Whittington. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 6, 2025
Donald Trump
Like any bully, U.S. president-elect Donald Trump needs someone to pick on for the sake of his audience, and for that role he seems to have chosen Canada. White House photograph by Andrea Hanks
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 6, 2025
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | January 6, 2025
Donald Trump
Like any bully, U.S. president-elect Donald Trump needs someone to pick on for the sake of his audience, and for that role he seems to have chosen Canada. White House photograph by Andrea Hanks
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 18, 2024
Chrystia Freeland
Chrystia Freeland’s resignation from cabinet will make stability and a unified front against Donald Trump that much harder to achieve. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 18, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 18, 2024
Chrystia Freeland
Chrystia Freeland’s resignation from cabinet will make stability and a unified front against Donald Trump that much harder to achieve. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 11, 2024
Donald Trump.
A recent interview confirmed U.S. president-elect Donald Trump is serious about putting a tariffs-for-income-tax-cuts trade-off at the centre of his economic agenda, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of NBC News
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 11, 2024
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 11, 2024
Donald Trump.
A recent interview confirmed U.S. president-elect Donald Trump is serious about putting a tariffs-for-income-tax-cuts trade-off at the centre of his economic agenda, writes Les Whittington. Screenshot courtesy of NBC News
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 11, 2019
There’s a direct line over the decades connecting the Montreal massacre to the outpouring of sexualized hate and threats that forced the government to give former environment minister Catherine McKenna a security detail earlier this year, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 11, 2019
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | December 11, 2019
There’s a direct line over the decades connecting the Montreal massacre to the outpouring of sexualized hate and threats that forced the government to give former environment minister Catherine McKenna a security detail earlier this year, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 27, 2019
It’s hard to set aside the surprising outpouring of criticism and warnings about Andrew Scheer’s leadership from within his own party, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 27, 2019
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 27, 2019
It’s hard to set aside the surprising outpouring of criticism and warnings about Andrew Scheer’s leadership from within his own party, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 20, 2019
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, pictured meeting with Alberta Premier Jason Kenney in Ottawa on May 4. The task ahead for Canada will be to find a way to channel the angst and insecurity felt by westerners—and cranked up by the likes of Kenney—into a long-term transition strategy that can reduce the shocks from the epochal shifts in energy demand, while giving Canadians in all regions a head start in developing a post-carbon economy, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 20, 2019
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 20, 2019
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, pictured meeting with Alberta Premier Jason Kenney in Ottawa on May 4. The task ahead for Canada will be to find a way to channel the angst and insecurity felt by westerners—and cranked up by the likes of Kenney—into a long-term transition strategy that can reduce the shocks from the epochal shifts in energy demand, while giving Canadians in all regions a head start in developing a post-carbon economy, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 13, 2019
Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured at a press conference in August during U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit. Getting the revised NAFTA agreement in place is the one reason why Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs to put Freeland back in the foreign affairs portfolio when he names a new cabinet next week, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 13, 2019
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 13, 2019
Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, pictured at a press conference in August during U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit. Getting the revised NAFTA agreement in place is the one reason why Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs to put Freeland back in the foreign affairs portfolio when he names a new cabinet next week, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 6, 2019
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has been reduced to a minority. But there’s little indication so far that co-operation is likely to be anything resembling a hallmark of this Parliament, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 6, 2019
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | November 6, 2019
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has been reduced to a minority. But there’s little indication so far that co-operation is likely to be anything resembling a hallmark of this Parliament, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 23, 2019
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau greet supporters in Montreal on Oct. 21. The Liberals suffered a rebuke at the hands of voters disillusioned with Mr. Trudeau in the wake of the blackface mess and the SNC-Lavalin affair, but managed to survive and achieve a strong minority government because of strategic voting designed to keep Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer out of power, writes Les Whittington The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 23, 2019
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 23, 2019
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau greet supporters in Montreal on Oct. 21. The Liberals suffered a rebuke at the hands of voters disillusioned with Mr. Trudeau in the wake of the blackface mess and the SNC-Lavalin affair, but managed to survive and achieve a strong minority government because of strategic voting designed to keep Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer out of power, writes Les Whittington The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 9, 2019
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, pictured in the National Press Theatre in June. Presumably hoping to amp up animosity towards Trudeau, Scheer has personalized his campaign rhetoric to the point where you would think the Liberals are the 'Justin Trudeau' party, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 9, 2019
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 9, 2019
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, pictured in the National Press Theatre in June. Presumably hoping to amp up animosity towards Trudeau, Scheer has personalized his campaign rhetoric to the point where you would think the Liberals are the 'Justin Trudeau' party, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 2, 2019
Participants of the Ottawa climate strike take to Parliament Hill on Sept. 27. The Green Party registered an uptick in its poll numbers after the climate protest marches, whereas being denounced by Thunberg for lack of action seems to have hurt Trudeau more than sidestepping the protests entirely hurt Scheer, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 2, 2019
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | October 2, 2019
Participants of the Ottawa climate strike take to Parliament Hill on Sept. 27. The Green Party registered an uptick in its poll numbers after the climate protest marches, whereas being denounced by Thunberg for lack of action seems to have hurt Trudeau more than sidestepping the protests entirely hurt Scheer, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 25, 2019
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured Sept. 18 during a scrum on his campaign plane in which he apologized for having previously donned blackface and brownface. Trudeau’s insensitive costuming mistakes from the past are putting the election choice in sharper relief, writes Les Whittington. Screen capture of an Associated Press video
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 25, 2019
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 25, 2019
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured Sept. 18 during a scrum on his campaign plane in which he apologized for having previously donned blackface and brownface. Trudeau’s insensitive costuming mistakes from the past are putting the election choice in sharper relief, writes Les Whittington. Screen capture of an Associated Press video
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 18, 2019
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, NDP Leader Jagmeet SIngh, and Green Leader Elizabeth May took part in the Sept. 12 Maclean's/CityTV leaders' debate. As it was, the affair was pretty much a debate-free zone, overflowing with accusations, unsubstantiated opinions, and incoherent back and forth with a distinct lack of reasonable argument, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 18, 2019
Opinion | BY LES WHITTINGTON | September 18, 2019
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, NDP Leader Jagmeet SIngh, and Green Leader Elizabeth May took part in the Sept. 12 Maclean's/CityTV leaders' debate. As it was, the affair was pretty much a debate-free zone, overflowing with accusations, unsubstantiated opinions, and incoherent back and forth with a distinct lack of reasonable argument, writes Les Whittington. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade