Prairie Love

The misunderstood landscapes of the Canadian Prairies

When I first moved to Canada, I chose Saskatchewan as my home province. From the moment I stepped off the plane every Canadian I met asked me the same question: “Why?”

It was as if the idea of someone leaving London, UK for Saskatchewan was so improbable it had to be a joke. How could anyone go from one of the most electric, dazzling cities in the world to the land of the living skies (and, according to locals, not much else)? Well, here’s the thing: I was tired of London, but very much not tired of life.

I was craving solitude, the open road, friendly strangers and the allure of the old West. Most of all I longed for nature. Not the Instagram kind that draws huge crowds, the one that no one sees. The endless fields and starry nights. The silence interrupted only by crickets. The stillness of an open road that forces your eyes to notice the tiniest details and makes the speed of clouds overly dramatic in comparison. The strong yellows and blues of a sunny day.

Eventually, answering that persistent “why” became exhausting, mostly because I didn’t know how to put my feelings into words. Yes, the Prairies can feel dull, depending on where you are in life. But if you allow them to charm you they have the tendency to stick around and linger in your subconscious more than other epic-looking places I travelled to.

I realized this when I finally moved to BC, worn out by Saskatchewan’s long, punishing winters. I ended up missing the Prairies, in a nostalgic kind of way. That’s why I travel back there every year to remind myself of that special connection.

I made a short video series ( two videos this week! ) trying to capture some of their subtle magic with a large format film camera. I had a ton of fun filming those, check them both out below.

Next, I’ll be taking a short break from this newsletter to prep for my upcoming winter adventures and give myself a moment to slow down. I hope you enjoy the videos, and I’m wishing you all Happy Holidays in case this ends up being my last update before Christmas.