2012 by Tara Walton

Tara Walton - Staff Photographer - @Taralynwalton

Stella enjoys a warm May afternoon laying on the front lawn of their east end Toronto home, with both her Mommies and her brother Sam, May 30, 2012.  At two years old Stella was diagnosed with a inoperable brain tumour, doctors had given her three months to live. More on Stella here.

Two year old Stella is cradled by her mother, Mishi, who is singing Stella off to sleep on the couch; a place of comfort for the little girl.

9:30 pm marks the lighting of sparklers for dinner guests followed by dancing.  Diner en Blanc, pops up in Toronto's Fort York August 9, 2012.  The all white picnic party location is disclosed to participants at the last minute, who arrive with tables, chairs and food in hand to participate in a mass picnic in the city.  

Qian Song and her three month-old son Ze Xian Li are at their appointment at the Pediatric Clinic at St. Michael's Health Centre, February 15, 2012. A Toronto study that suggests the question of how much your baby weighs can be stressful on immigrant parents, whose infants are being incorrectly diagnosed as significantly underweight.  The researchers have come up with a new weight chart that takes into account the fact that some ethnic groups simply give birth to smaller babies. 

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford stands in front of Parka the Beaver, the Canada Parks mascot June 15, during a press conference at Toronto's Moss Park.  Ford joins Coca-Cola representatives and others at a ceremony to mark the rebuilding of Moss Park. 

Jens Ramputh holds a framed photo of the home he's restoring, originally built in 1784.  While renovating Ramputh came across a hidden jar of letters.  Inclosed in the jar were two pennies for luck and two letters from two young bible students dated February 23, 1945 urging the finder to seek them out.  Ramputh made a phone call locating one of the students, Lieses Wiebe, now 90 years old living in Virgil. Here is the video about the story.

A graduate looks on from the upper level of Convocation Hall on David Peterson's final day as chancellor of the University of Toronto. Close to the end of the ceremony the department of Music surprised the chancellor with a adapted rendition of "Swing low, sweet chariot.", June 21, 2012. 

Children in the Recognize the Real summer day camp program participate in the fitness camp's drill session.

A Toronto Police Officer stands watch over a taped off area on the edge of Toronto's Don Valley Golf Course March 1, 2012 near the 401 and Yonge Street .  Human remains were found in the area and turned out to be those of missing girl Mariam Makhniashvili, who disappeared September 14, 2009 before school.

Patrons of St. Michael's Eritrean Orthodox Church, located at 702 Jane Street, hold a prayer service and visitation for Cabbagetown murder victim Nighisti Semret.  Some of Semret's family who found out about her murder through the internet drove from the United States to attend the funeral, November 4, 3012.

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford hangs out on the playground equipment of the newly opened Underpass Park August 2, 2012 in Toronto.  Underpass Park, located south of King Street East under the Eastern Avenue and Richmond/Adelaide overpass is the first park even built under an overpass in Toronto.  It features a public art installation, playground structures, skateboarding facilities and basketball courts. 

Twelve year old Shale Wagman does a jump split from his bed  May 5, 2012.  Wagman was Toronto's own Billy Elliot and Canadian ballet phenom and one of the finalists in Canada’s Got Talent.

Movie goers make their way through the Cumberland Theatre, which was showing its final screening May 6, 2012 after 30 years in Toronto's Yorkville neighbourhood. 

Ninty-two year old Wally Stanowski smokes his pipe while posing for photos in his Etobicoke home February 16, 2012.  Wally is the oldest living Maple Leaf and last link to their Stanley Cup wins in early '40s. 

Air Canada travellers at Toronto's Pearson Airport wait at Terminal One to check in March 7, 2012.   Air Canada's largest union, representing 8,600 baggage handlers, cargo agents and maintenance engineers, had served formal notice it intended to strike at 12:01 a.m. on March 12, during the busy March Break travelling season.

Dragons’ Den and The Big Decision star Arlene Dickinson poses for a photo October 19, 2012 in her Toronto office.  On October 22 Dickinson announced the launch of Arlene Dickinson Enterprises, a media and investment venture designed in helping entrepreneurs.  

Toronto Maple Leafs' goalie Jonas Gustavsson grabs some water during a break in second period action against the Buffalo Sabres January 10, 2012 at the Air Canada Centre. 

Ottawa's Helene Campbell poses for photos in her Toronto apartment May 28, 2012 where she is recovering from a double lung transplant.  In April Campbell underwent a double lung transplant at Toronto General Hospital.  During her time on the waiting list Helene became Canada's greatest advocate for organ donation, sparking hundreds to sign up through the power of twitter and with help of her friends, Justin Beiber and Ellen DeGeneres.

Canadian hurdler Priscilla Lopes-Schliep spends some family time with her daughter Nataliya at a Whitby park near the home she grew up in, May 17, 2012. In September, Priscilla gave birth to her daughter, Nataliya, giving her less than ten months to prepare for Canada's Olympic trials in June. 

Toronto Blue Jays Rajai Davis jumps into the arms of his teammates after scoring a walk off RBI in the tenth inning to win the game over the Philadelphia Phillies, June 16.

Toronto Maple Leafs' goalie Ben Scrivens makes a save against the  Tampa Bay Lightning during second period action Thursday April 5, 2012 the last Leafs home game of the year.

Toronto Raptor Amir Johnson face plants into the shoulder of Charlotte Bobcats' D.J. White during first half of action, April 3, 2012.

Zander spends time with his older brother Taten who is visiting from Halifax.  Zander is at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children after undergoing a double organ transplant.  

Mishi and Aimee hang onto one another as the car carrying Stella's body leaves their east end Toronto bungalow.  Stella passed away just after 5 pm in her parents room surrounded with Mishi and Aimee's love, October 22, 2012.  Friends gathered at the house shortly after 5 pm to say their last goodbyes and send Stella's body off. 

Which picture is your favourite?

Leave a comment below and be entered into the end of year contest, details here.

See Tara's favourite pictures from 2011

 

 

Comments

[Steve Russell, Toronto Star Staff Photographer]

Hard to pick one! But my favourite has to be Wally Stanowski!

[Terry Lord]

The one that made my heart jump was the two boys,the baby with the double transplant and his big brother...made me cry!

[2E]

Maybe it's because I' m a mom...but I love the tender moment of Stella being sung to sleep on the couch Tara. It makes my heart ache...

[cateyecreations]

This photos really amazed me, fantastic work!

[Gabrielle Vali]

The photo of the traveler at Pearson is fantastic. I love silhouettes.