David Tuan Bui's Top 10 Photos of 2025
/Another year passed and I have covered a multitude of stories in Peterborough and the Kawarthas.
If there is one thing I love about this career, it’s going out into the community and getting involved.
As usual, I’ll note that photography isn't the strongest tool in my journalism belt but it’s a craft that improves with guidance and practice.
I have to give a shoutout to one of our local news photographers in Clifford Skarstedt. For a short time, I worked with him and now I have been working alongside him for almost five years. He has given me photography tips throughout my entire PTBOCanada tenure and taught me more than any classroom ever could. Thanks Cliff for the photography help!
Photo courtesy of Jordan Lyall Photography.
There could have been plenty of other photos that would have made the list; I took a ton so I’m bound to have missed what would have been a great one.
Here are my top ten photos that I have taken for PTBOCanada in no particular order:
Tom Thacker (left) and Theo Goutzinakis (right) of Gob, rock out at Musicfest before a huge crowd at Del Crary Park. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Even though I was born in 1987, I grew up a ‘90s kid. Gob has definitely circulated through the airwaves during my childhood and several of my friends knew them as their songs were featured in several NHL video games.
They transported me back to the moment I photographed their performance this year at Peterborough Musicfest.
Although older, Tom Thacker and Theo Goutzinakis still have the punk rock vibe going, having been founded in 1993. What a time the ‘90s and ‘00s were…
Hockey Benders Cole Lequier and Aiden Dale signing a young fan’s mechandised hoodie. pHOTO BY dAVID tUAN bUI.
As a hockey fan and one of only two Los Angeles Kings fans in Peterborough (that I know of), my short reel algorithms are filled with hockey and the Hockey Benders are definitely a part of it.
It was a cool experience to meet Cole Lequier and Aiden Dale in person and have a small conversation with them as young hockey fans went wild, waiting in line to meet them.
Captuing the moment of a young man getting his hoodie signed and knowing he put on a bright smile after this shot was taken has to be unforgettable for him.
Lexi Mills of Heeling Souls getting affection from her Australian Border Collie, Phoebe. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Who doesn’t love animals?
As Community Futures Peterborough celebrated its 40th anniversary at Farmhill Weddings, there was a pop-up market of graduates of the 2024 and 2025 Starter Company Plus program.
One graduate was Heeling Souls, where Lexi Mills was getting some love and affection from Phoebe. I’ve had a few dogs during my life and now I have a pet cat named Macaroon that has been with me for the past seven years.
Zain Kailsli, 12 (left), gets a hands-on quilling lesson from Sandra Moore of Creators Gifts Fabric & Art (right). Photo by David Tuan Bui.
I always had a soft spot for any time I do a story involving Indigenous and First Nations people. My last career before PTBOCanada was a sportswriter for an Indigenous weekly newspaper called The Eastern Door, based out in Kahnawake (just south of Montréal).
About 215 Catholic students from the Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland and Clarington school district enjoyed hands-on, fun learning at Trent University's Indigenous Skilled Trades Day.
Sandra Moore of Creators Gifts Fabric & Art taught the students (and me) about quilling and its process as Zain Kailsli gets a crash course.
Eddy Sweeney (left), Abba Koshka (middle) and Kaza Hesselink (right) in their respective roles as David, Mary and Tim in the third act. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Peter Robinson has always been a vital part of Peterborough's history, as he helped approximately 2,024 Irish settlers settle in Peterborough through the British government’s assisted emigration program for destitute Irish families.
Trent Valley Archives Theatre brought his story to life at Princess Gardens Retirement Residence, as I captured this scene of conflict during the trials and tribulations of one of nine ships transporting the families.
This production was a sneak peek for its full show at Market Hall this past May.
ex-Petes goaltender Zach Bowen signs the first autograph for Tyanna Martin, 7, after the team had finished practice at the Havelock Community Centre. All photos by David Tuan Bui.
The Peterborough Petes typically hold one final practice before the regular season at the HBM Community Centre in Havelock.
Kids from the Havelock Hawks (Havelock Minor Hockey) got to skate with the team, get autographs and have dinner with the team.
In the case of seven-year-old Tyanna Martin, it was a surreal experience as no ex-goalie Zach Bowen signed an autograph and the expression says it all.
Vanessa Oake Hogan (left), Renee Oake (middle) and Lesley Oake triumphant after finishing their swim. Renee has had professional swimming experience and swam 129 laps. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
When doesn’t a Carl Oake Rotary Swim crack the list? Never.
This year’s photo featured all three of Carl Oake’s daughters in Vanessa, Renee and Lesley. However, this year’s event was the first time it was held without Carl, who passed away on Jan. 2.
While Carl’s passing came less than two months before the event, in a prior interview, Vanessa said, “We never had any intention of stopping and especially now, we always knew it was important to the community.”
There was $57,748 raised from the 39th Annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim.
Peterborough Challenger Kyla receives a medal from a London Challenger Baseball coach after a three-game series. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
In a rare instance, I covered a story far beyond Peterborough and the Kawarthas: the Peterborough Challengers held their annual Friendship Games against other Challenger Baseball teams in St. George, Ont., in July.
I was here because I’ve been a volunteer coach for the past four years and conveniently visited my sister for the weekend, who lives in nearby London.
Challenger Baseball supports anyone with cognitive or developmental challenges, or with chronic health issues, who cannot play organized sports. Seeing all the kids and adults play a game they love without any barriers is something near and dear to me. You can see that here from Challengers Kyla and David (background), proud and happy to receive their medals after a hard-fought three-game series with the London Challengers.
Astrom points to himself 32 years ago when he joined the Blue Jays celebrating Joe Carter’s home run in 1993. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
While the Toronto Blue Jays came up one run short of winning a World Series, no doubt that their run was a magical one.
This takes us back to the 1993 World Series, where Joe Carter nailed a walk-off home run to win it for the Blue Jays, their last one. Among the celebrations was Peterborough’s Mark Astrom, who ran onto the field.
This photo captures him running onto the field during one of Canada’s greatest baseball moments. It’s remarkable how Peterborough can be connected to some of the nation’s most significant moments.
Keith Wightman Students have fun with monster truck Sabotage out at the school’s parking lot. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
