Mark Truelove is bringing Canada's past into the present.
Portraits take about an hour, while big group shots can take as much as 10 hours. “It really depends on how many people, and also, how complex is the environment they’re in?”
Here are 14 of Truelove's favourite colourized Canadian historical photos.
1. Sir John A. Macdonald – 1870
"I am trying to colourize all of the prime ministers of Canada as I find decent photos of them. Sir John A. Macdonald was the first PM of Canada — so a great photo to do."
"I am trying to colourize all of the prime ministers of Canada as I find decent photos of them. Sir John A. Macdonald was the first PM of Canada — so a great photo to do."
"I am trying to colourize all of the prime ministers of Canada as I find decent photos of them. Sir John A. Macdonald was the first PM of Canada — so a great photo to do."
2. Canadian soldiers writing letters – 1919
"I thought the subject of this photo was something that transcended time: a soldier writing to friends or family. I also loved the cookie tin. I found an example of the same tin online to work from. From the date of the photo and its location I think they may have been soldiers in the Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force."
"I thought the subject of this photo was something that transcended time: a soldier writing to friends or family. I also loved the cookie tin. I found an example of the same tin online to work from. From the date of the photo and its location I think they may have been soldiers in the Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force."
"I thought the subject of this photo was something that transcended time: a soldier writing to friends or family. I also loved the cookie tin. I found an example of the same tin online to work from. From the date of the photo and its location I think they may have been soldiers in the Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force."
3. Exterior of Charles Anderson’s grocery store in Vancouver – 1895
"The hanging birds took a long time!"
"The hanging birds took a long time!"
"The hanging birds took a long time!"
4. Granville Street, Vancouver – 1905
"When we see old black-and-white photos it is easy to lose sight of how colourful streets were and how much bright, colourful advertising there was in the early 1900s."
"When we see old black-and-white photos it is easy to lose sight of how colourful streets were and how much bright, colourful advertising there was in the early 1900s."
"When we see old black-and-white photos it is easy to lose sight of how colourful streets were and how much bright, colourful advertising there was in the early 1900s."
5. German and Canadian soldiers having tea near the front lines – Nov. 24, 1917
"I love this photo. It is great to see both Canadian and German soldiers hanging out together — a couple of hours before they could have been shooting at each other and now are just relieved to have a mug of tea."
"I love this photo. It is great to see both Canadian and German soldiers hanging out together — a couple of hours before they could have been shooting at each other and now are just relieved to have a mug of tea."
"I love this photo. It is great to see both Canadian and German soldiers hanging out together — a couple of hours before they could have been shooting at each other and now are just relieved to have a mug of tea."
6. James “Eddie” Edwards, N. Africa – January 1943
James Francis “Stocky” Edwards was a Canadian fighter pilot during the Second World War and has the distinction of being Canada’s highest scoring ace in the Western Desert Campaign. Born in Nokomis, Saskatchewan, Edwards grew up in Battleford, Saskatchewan.
"This really shows how young many of the pilots were," Truelove said.
James Francis “Stocky” Edwards was a Canadian fighter pilot during the Second World War and has the distinction of being Canada’s highest scoring ace in the Western Desert Campaign. Born in Nokomis, Saskatchewan, Edwards grew up in Battleford, Saskatchewan.
"This really shows how young many of the pilots were," Truelove said.
James Francis “Stocky” Edwards was a Canadian fighter pilot during the Second World War and has the distinction of being Canada’s highest scoring ace in the Western Desert Campaign. Born in Nokomis, Saskatchewan, Edwards grew up in Battleford, Saskatchewan.
"This really shows how young many of the pilots were," Truelove said.
7. Three players from the Toronto St. Patricks – December 3, 1926
"I had never heard of the Toronto St. Pats before I came across this photo. They became the Toronto Maple Leafs the next year, in 1927."
"I had never heard of the Toronto St. Pats before I came across this photo. They became the Toronto Maple Leafs the next year, in 1927."
"I had never heard of the Toronto St. Pats before I came across this photo. They became the Toronto Maple Leafs the next year, in 1927."
8. Nurses in training at St. Joseph’s Training School of Nursing in London, Ont. – February 1904
"This as a fun photo to do. People had a sense of humour back then too and I love the fact they are messing around for the camera instead of sitting for a formal portrait."
"This as a fun photo to do. People had a sense of humour back then too and I love the fact they are messing around for the camera instead of sitting for a formal portrait."
"This as a fun photo to do. People had a sense of humour back then too and I love the fact they are messing around for the camera instead of sitting for a formal portrait."
9. Cree man from Alberta.
"Really happy with how this one turned out — the original was a great black-and-white shot with great lighting."
"Really happy with how this one turned out — the original was a great black-and-white shot with great lighting."
"Really happy with how this one turned out — the original was a great black-and-white shot with great lighting."
10. Celebrating the announcement of VE Day in Vancouver – May 7, 1945
"I wanted to do a photo for the anniversary of VE day. I liked the headline 'Vancouver Goes Wild' and yet no one looks very wild!"
"I wanted to do a photo for the anniversary of VE day. I liked the headline 'Vancouver Goes Wild' and yet no one looks very wild!"
"I wanted to do a photo for the anniversary of VE day. I liked the headline 'Vancouver Goes Wild' and yet no one looks very wild!"
11. Reporters waiting on the street, Toronto – 1910-1920
"Again another scene that is repeated every day — reporters waiting for a story. I've walked past the court house in Vancouver and although the clothing and cameras are different, the scene could be the same."
"Again another scene that is repeated every day — reporters waiting for a story. I've walked past the court house in Vancouver and although the clothing and cameras are different, the scene could be the same."
"Again another scene that is repeated every day — reporters waiting for a story. I've walked past the court house in Vancouver and although the clothing and cameras are different, the scene could be the same."
12. Main street of Killarney, Manitoba – October 1940
"A great shot of small-town Canada. The kid with the ice cream was fun and some of the buildings are still there today."
"A great shot of small-town Canada. The kid with the ice cream was fun and some of the buildings are still there today."
"A great shot of small-town Canada. The kid with the ice cream was fun and some of the buildings are still there today."
13. Lumberjacks having their photograph taken – Quebec, 1937
"Another favourite. I liked the idea of the photographer setting up on the street and the lumberjacks walking by and deciding to have a photo done."
"Another favourite. I liked the idea of the photographer setting up on the street and the lumberjacks walking by and deciding to have a photo done."
"Another favourite. I liked the idea of the photographer setting up on the street and the lumberjacks walking by and deciding to have a photo done."
14. Gas fitter in Draeger oxygen equipment – Toronto 1923
"I chose this one for the equipment — I liked the vintage look of the kit."
"I chose this one for the equipment — I liked the vintage look of the kit."
"I chose this one for the equipment — I liked the vintage look of the kit."