Aliyah lived a beautiful life for 7 years. I didn't have the privilege of knowing her at the time, but I've come to learn about her powerful legacy through words and pictures generously shared by her parents. She had an adventurous, "why say no?!" attitude and a deep love for humanity. You'd certainly have to in order to convince your parents to do a polar dip with you in Lake Ontario on New Year’s Day, which she did on January 1, 2022. Frozen Toes is an annual event I’ve had the pleasure of photographing for two years now since its inception. It is a coming together to honour and celebrate Aliyah’s beautiful spirit. She has inspired me to move forward with more care, creativity and courage. Everyone shouted “For Aliyah! For humanity!” before dashing into the freezing cold water.
