We are excited to announce the winner of this year’s Ruth Lee’s Photo of the Year competition, an annual celebration of the dedication and skill of rescue professionals worldwide. This year’s competition saw outstanding submissions from across the globe, each showcasing the grit, determination, and camaraderie of rescue teams in action.
After an intense Facebook vote, Sarnia Fire Rescue from Ontario, Canada, has been crowned our 2024 winner! Their dramatic and emotionally charged image, shared with us back in September, captured the hearts of our followers. The photo depicts a powerful moment as a firefighter performs a child rescue during training. It’s a striking testament to the bravery and commitment of rescue professionals, and it exemplifies the essence of realistic and impactful training.
We were also blown away by the incredible support from Sarnia’s community, whose votes helped secure their victory. This level of enthusiasm highlights the strength of the global rescue community and the shared dedication to training and excellence.
We’d also like to extend a huge thank you to ALG Safety in Canada for their continued support in helping us celebrate and showcase the efforts of rescue teams in the region. The calibre of imagery and training coming out of Ontario is truly exceptional, and this year’s win adds to a proud history. Back in 2021, Mitchell Brown (Smoke Is Showing) Photography, also from Ontario, won the competition with a stunning image and chose to donate his prize to the local firefighters in Lincoln, Ontario – just a couple of hours down the road from this year’s winners! It’s a testament to the outstanding dedication and talent of rescue professionals in the area.
We also want to acknowledge this year’s runner-up, OSP Polków Sagały from Poland, who showcased exceptional community support and submitted an impressive entry that resonated deeply with our audience.
As winners, Sarnia Fire Rescue will receive a brand-new Ruth Lee training manikin to support their ongoing efforts.
“We are very proud to serve our citizens and to have won the photo contest. We are honoured that we had so much support from our community.” – Mike Otis, Public Education Officer and Photographer of the winning image.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in this year’s competition. Your photos are a constant source of inspiration, and we’re thrilled to showcase the incredible work being done around the world. At Ruth Lee, we take great pride in supporting rescue professionals with high-quality training manikins that make a difference in real-world scenarios.
Our #FridayFavouritePhotos series will return in January 2025, featuring more inspiring images from rescue teams worldwide. Remember to tag us in your training photos on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or X/Twitter or email them directly to katie@ruthlee.co.uk for a chance to be featured and to enter next year’s Photo of the Year competition.
Congratulations again to Sarnia Fire Rescue on their well-deserved win. Here’s to another year of celebrating the incredible passion and dedication of the rescue community!