Experience World-Class Photography in Sault Ste. Marie: WPC Team Canada 2025 Photo Exhibition

If you’re searching for inspiring things to do in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario this fall, mark your calendar for an extraordinary cultural event. From September 23 through November 8, 2025, Camera Craft Gallery at 716 Queen Street East will host the World Photographic Cup Team Canada 2025 Photo Exhibition — a visual celebration of artistic excellence in Canadian photography.

This free exhibition brings a unique opportunity to see some of the best photographic work being created in Canada today. As part of the elite group of 24 photographers selected for World Photographic Cup Team Canada 2025 (WPC Team Canada 2025), I’m incredibly proud to bring this showcase to my hometown of Sault Ste. Marie. As the second Northern Ontario photographer ever chosen to represent Canada on this global stage coming on the heals of Kelly Robitaille of Garson, Ontario in 2018 and 2019,  I want to use this moment to not only share the art but also ignite inspiration among students, aspiring creatives, and our local arts community.

What is the World Photographic Cup?

The World Photographic Cup (WPC) is often described as the Olympics of professional photography. Each year, countries from around the world submit their top photographers to compete in categories such as Portrait, Nature, Commercial, Reportage, and more. The goal is to unite photographers in a spirit of friendship and competition, while showcasing the cultural and creative diversity of photography globally.

Team Canada is chosen annually by a national committee, and its members are some of the best photographic artists from across the country. In 2025, the world final took place in Quito, Ecuador, where Team Canada’s images competed for individual and team medals while an assembly of team members were present and those that were not, attended virtually.

Why This Exhibition Matters

This exhibition is more than just a gallery show. It’s a window into the visual language of Canada — the stories, people, landscapes, and ideas that shape our national identity, all captured through the lens of some of our finest photographers.

What makes this event especially meaningful for our community is that Sault Ste. Marie is the only location in Northern Ontario hosting a WPC Team Canada 2025 exhibition. This is a rare opportunity to see the work of Canada’s photographic elite without leaving the region.

As a local photographer, it’s been a dream to bring this caliber of work to my city. I’ll be at the gallery in person on October 9, during regular hours, to meet visitors, answer questions, and discuss what it means to represent Canada on the international stage.

Who Should Visit?

Whether you’re an art lover, a student, a working creative, or someone who simply enjoys discovering something new — this exhibition has something for you.

Art & Photography Enthusiasts

If you’re passionate about the arts, this exhibition is a must-see. The photographs on display span genres from fine art and portraiture to commercial and documentary photography. You’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for the technical skill, creativity, and vision behind each image.

Students and Educators

This is a perfect outing for high school or post-secondary art students — particularly those studying photography, media arts, or visual culture. Seeing real-world, world-class work up close can be a powerful motivator. It’s also an excellent opportunity for class field trips or assignments tied to the Ontario curriculum’s expectations around visual literacy and careers in the arts.

Aspiring Photographers

If you’ve ever considered turning your love of photography into a career, this is a chance to learn what’s possible. Speak with me on October 9 about what it takes to build a portfolio, enter competitions, or make your mark on the national (and international) scene.

Tourists & Locals Looking for Unique Things to Do

This exhibition is one of the top cultural events happening in Sault Ste. Marie this fall. Whether you’re visiting the Soo or just looking for something fresh and inspiring to do downtown, drop in and discover the power of visual storytelling.

Visit the Exhibition

Where:
Camera Craft Gallery
716 Queen Street East
Sault Ste. Marie, ON

When:
September 23 – November 8, 2025
Admission is free

Meet the Photographer – October 9
I will be on-site during gallery hours on Thursday, October 9 to meet with visitors, discuss the work, and answer questions.

Why I’m Proud to Represent Northern Ontario

Being chosen to represent Canada is a huge honour — but being only the second photographer from Northern Ontario to ever make the team is something I hold close to heart. Our region is full of talent, stories, and beauty, and I believe we deserve to have a voice on the world stage. This exhibition is a celebration not just of photography, but of what it means to come from Northern Ontario and create art that resonates globally.

How You Can Support

Even without a budget for promotion, word of mouth can be incredibly powerful. If you believe in the arts, in local creators, or just in sharing inspiration, here’s how you can help:

  • Share this post with friends, family, teachers, and colleagues
  • Tag @CameraCraftGallery on social media and use hashtags like #WPC2025Canada #SaultSteMarieArts #NorthernOntarioPhotography
  • Bring a friend or organize a small group to visit together
  • Suggest it to local schools, art classes, or college programs

Every visitor helps show that art matters — and that Northern Ontario is full of people who care about creativity, culture, and community.

Final Thoughts

Hosting this exhibition is a dream come true, not only as an artist but as a proud Saultite. I hope you’ll join me and take the time to explore the stories these photographs tell. Whether you come for inspiration, education, or simple enjoyment, you’ll be part of something truly special.

For more updates, follow Camera Craft Gallery on Facebook or Instagram and keep an eye on local event listings or you can reach out to me directly. I look forward to meeting many of you on October 9 — and thank you for supporting local arts and Canadian photography.

written by

VioletAubertin

A privileged descendant of immigrant settlers to Turtle Island who makes home on Robinson Huron Treaty Land which was lovingly nurtured and respected by the Anishinabek nations of the Ojibway, Potawatami and Odawa peoples.  She is a graduate of The Photography Institute of Canada and completed several advanced studies after retiring from her working career in healthcare. Professional Photographers of Canada Accredited her in - Ornithology / Bird Photography (2021), Fine Art (2022), Pictorial / Scenic (2021), Wildlife (2022) as well as Animals (2022), Nature (2023), Night Photography (2023), Stock Photography (2025), Botanical (2025) & Macro and Micro Photography (2025). In addition she has also received her her Craftsman of Photographic Arts (CPA 2024) and her judging certification through PPOC in January 2025. She has also been a National and Regional Award recipient multiple times over in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 having images chosen to exhibit in Professional Photographers of Canada's prestigious National Exhibition 2022, Ontario's prestigious Regional Exhibition 2021 as well as British Columbia's and Eastern Canada's prestigious Regional Exhibitions 2022, Eastern Canada's Regional Exhibition 2023 and PPOC's National Exhibition 2024, Eastern Canada's Regional 2024, British Columbia's Regional 2024, Prairie Regional 2024, Alberta Regional 2024 and PPOC's National Exhibition 2025. Violet was named to World Photographic Cup Team Canada 2025. Operating out of Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada Violet is a freelance photojournalist. Her specialties include Wildlife, Landscape and Fine Art Photography, with special interests in Food Photography and Urban Decay but practices many more well-rounded photographic skills.