The former name, The Valley Eye, officially began its journey when joining Facebook back in May of 2021.
Over the years, I, Adrian, have been a part of a plethora of events in our local area, including many breaking news topics, community stories and many historical moments across the Annapolis Valley, while sharing these on social media.
I’ve always been about providing the public with the need to know information, while striving to be as accurate and factual as possible.
On many occasions, I rely heavily on those in the public for my information, helping with traffic advisories, ideas for stories and helping keep me in check. It’s tasking running a busy page almost all on your own, and sometimes I make mistakes.
The main topics of interest that have been posted on Facebook are captured and shared by one administrator, Adrian Johnstone, locally from Kings County.
In some cases, I utilize the assistance of my co-administrators who help with posting important updates and media releases when I’m unavailable, while also attending news briefings when I need an extra set of hands!
⚠️ Regular posts will continue on Facebook along with this website. The purpose of this website is to allow for a more user friendly platform. This particular platform will be used as a regular place to visit for information and allow followers to locate old articles in a more organized and accessible manner.
About Adrian
Once I graduated from Central Kings High School in 2017, I enrolled in NSCC where I attempted to pursue a career in the medical field. While this didn’t go as planned, my life changed in 2018 when I pursued other avenues and changed jobs.
I worked at the Kings Regional Rehabilitation Centre for approximately two years, working with clients with a range of disabilities. During this time, I grew a passion for photography.
My late Grandfather Stuart, spent a significant part of his life reporting on local sports and breaking news in our direct community before his passing in 2015. I remember as a child when he would write his stories at home, using a ruler to keep his lines straight, on a blank piece of paper. Oh how times have changed!
It wasn’t until 2018 that I began reading back on some of his submitted articles for the local register. I grew attached to the idea of following in his footsteps.
My grandfather was inducted into the Berwick Sports Hall Of Fame for his contributions to the community via sports reporting before his passing.
While I thought picking up a camera and taking photos would be a walk in the park, it certainly wasn’t. It required lots of patience, time and effort. I self-taught all my current experience, with the assistance of many YouTube videos, learning the technical aspects and the basics of manual cameras.
In 2018, I joined the fire service where I continue to volunteer in my spare time with my local fire department. Growing up in a tight family, I was surrounded by firefighters. It was impossible to not know what was going on in the community. I would always spend time at the fire station, getting in the trucks and being a part of my family’s daily activities around the fire hall, even tagging along to fire calls.
My late grandfather served and my uncle and I continue, having a combined service of over 115 years in our volunteer fire department, between the three of us.
I began covering breaking news events in the community, photographing fires, accidents, police related incidents and posting them on my personal Facebook with very basic information in late 2018.
Since then, I have certainly come a long way, changing my approach in which I document and capture such sensitive topics.
Before The Valley Eye made its mark online, I started to get recognition from our local register at the time. This resulted in a paid contract with the once-known company “Saltwire Network.”
I started attending community events for Saltwire, writing articles and contributing many stories on behalf of the network for multiple years while working full-time.
It was in 2020 when I switched jobs again and began working full time at my current employment, Valley Communications, as an emergency services dispatcher and 911 operator. This job certainly restricts me from my ability to provide updates on a regular basis, but it is a rewarding and eye-opening career.
While my photography continued to improve, connections became more established, and my work was being noticed.
I would receive regular messages from news outlets such as CTV, CBC & Global News and made many connections with the fire service and many other emergency service agencies across the valley.
It was in early May of 2021 when I chose to start a public Facebook page which detached me from my personal platforms. It was at this time the page “The Valley Eye” was formed. The name was given as a recommendation by one of my mother’s close friends, it stuck with me and I ran with it.
The name itself didn’t only cover breaking news but had a purpose for a broader picture, such as my nature photography and the community articles I would soon start covering more of.
With a large following, my posts and photos get circulated around quite quickly, and it keeps everyone in the loop, basically at your fingertips.
In late 2023, I really began establishing myself, making connections with the RCMP and other provincial agencies.
This became the stepping stone for sharing timely media releases and gathering information that was important to the community. These relationships have been positive all around, for not just me but for all those who look towards my page for updates.
It’s been to no surprise my work has been highlighted across the province and beyond.
It wasn’t until early 2024 when I started receiving messages from local businesses inquiring about photography and videography services.
I was taken back by this and thought to myself, when will I find the time? I’ve made it work. Having these side projects helps me financially keep this page running with equipment, gas and other expenses.
The main focus of this page is volunteer. I feel it’s important that the public shouldn’t have to dig to find out what’s happening in their local community.
Yes, I said volunteer, the bulk of the work that’s posted on this page via breaking news, community stories and traffic notices are done all on my free time.
It wasn’t until shortly after having businesses reach out that I felt the need to take things further and officially establish the name for my page that I’ve worked so hard to make.
On July 26th, 2024, the name “The Valley Eye Photography” was officially registered as a business through the Nova Scotia Joint Stocks.
This really became a serious passion, one that I hold close to my heart, following in my grandfathers footsteps.
Every day the page blows my mind with the input from those locally and nationally about how much they enjoy keeping tabs on home and viewing my photography. It’s something to this day I don’t fully understand its impact and the positive contributions it brings.
The connections and relationships I have made are truly amazing.
The primary focus of “The Valley Eye Photography” is to provide the community with accurate and accessible information on local happenings while capturing my photography along the way.
Over the years, many have looked to me for local news. I certainly don’t consider myself a news outlet. If anything, this has always been a hobby, one which I take a little too seriously at times.
This page is a free tool to allow those locally to be informed on what is taking place in the Annapolis Valley, particularly Annapolis, Hants and Kings Counties.
In some cases, coverage does span outside my typical area, but not regularly.
Ensuring people can have information at the ready without struggling to find it has always been something I think is important.
I truly hope this particular website is user friendly and helps with being able to view old, new and interesting content about the happenings in our communities.
I’m looking forward to keeping you updated with the need to know information and locally based content for many years to come.
Below is an article from 2020, from the early stages of my current adventure.
Your continued support is truly appreciated.
Adrian Johnstone
Administrator & Photographer