By Marianne Wood, Bruce Peninsula Press
Congratulations to Rod Steinacher of Tobermory, winner of the 2022 Bruce Peninsula Telephone Directory Cover Photo Contest. His photo of a Red Fox was unanimously chosen as the best of many local photos submitted this year.
Rod is a retired educator who has lived with his wife, Noreen, full time in Tobermory for 14 years, owning property here since 1991. He has been involved in various nature-related activities during this time, such as the Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory, the National Park Advisory Committee, and the Turtle Trackers (both inside the National Park and at Cape Hurd).
Rod has volunteered with the students at St. Edmunds School and with the Biosphere Association’s Dark Sky Committee, as well as working to establish appropriate night time lighting within the Park, the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula, and at the Tobermory ferry terminal. Rod was the dark sky viewing educator on the top deck of the Chi-Cheemaun for five summers, and is actively involved with the Tobermory Community Gardens and its projects.
Photography has been a serious interest for most of Rod’s lifetime – he almost always has a camera with him – which has come in handy many times!
The photo of a Red Fox was taken in 2021 on a snowy, mid-winter day on one of the fox’s near daily visits to check out the happenings at the wild bird feeders at the Steinacher’s Cape Hurd home. Even on very cold days and nights, their fur keeps them well-insulated, allowing foxes to make their long, meandering food searches throughout the winter (while many other animals are tucked away hibernating). Rod offers “This fox is definitely not tame, but will tolerate humans from a distance, making a telephoto lens useful.”
As winner of the Phone Book Cover Photo Contest, Tobermory Press donates $300.00 to the charity of choice. Rod has chosen the Covered Pavilion Project at the Tobermory Community Park as the recipient.
“I have chosen the Covered Pavilion Projectas my charity, which will become part of the Tobermory Community Park.” says Rod. “This initiative will compliment and expand facilities already being utilized at the site, by local residents and visitors alike.”
The Bruce Peninsula Telephone Directory is mailed to every home and business on the Bruce Peninsula from Tobermory to Hepworth. Approximately 12,000 directories are being distributed this year.
Thank you to everyone who submitted photos for consideration and congratulations to our winner, Rod!
