YMM Parent launches its fourth annual cover contest

For the fourth consecutive year, YMM Parent Magazine is creating an opportunity for families to be on the front cover of its annual publication. This year one lucky family will receive a magazine cover shoot with one of Fort McMurray’s best photographers, Thomas Hopkins, and win an entertainment experience at The Alley YMM.

The Alley YMM will be offering a package to the winning family and includes one hour of bowling and shoe rentals, a 24-inch pizza with appetizers and refreshments, as well as play cards for access to its arcade.

“We feel that YMM Parent focuses so positively on family-related activities and topics in the region. Partnering with like-minded people and organizations is important to us, and we are eager to collaborate with others investing in the Fort McMurray community positively,” said Sarah Farhat, co-owner of The Alley YMM.

Since The Alley YMM opened its doors in July 2019 as the first and only family entertainment centre in the city’s downtown core, it quickly became the sought-after place by parents for its wide range of all-age activities. From its bowling alleys with five and ten pins to the kaleidoscopic atmosphere found throughout its arcade, The Alley YMM offers all the excitement the moment guests walk through its front doors.

Though the pandemic and spring flood has had a significant impact on their business, the owners said they are focusing on the positives by fine-tuning their business to create even more great ways for families to come together.

“We worked hard to adjust to COVID restrictions and recover from flood damage and received incredible support from our team, other business owners and the community during clean-up and relaunching our delivery and takeout,” said Sarah. “Lockdown has been difficult for the business but also a great opportunity for us to take a minute to regroup and fine-tune how we run the business from our day-to-day operations to our menu. And, we have made great use of this slowdown and could not be more excited to reopen.”

As for capturing the contest, the winning family will be joining the man behind the Thomas Hopkins Photography business for his debut magazine cover shoot.

Thomas Hopkins

“Let’s be honest. Last year was unreal. I’m hoping the contest can give families a chance to flip that feeling to reflect on some of the positives that can come out of all of it. Thinking about some of the fun and possibly different activities they have done throughout the year that brought each family some joy,” he explained.

Hopkins has become one of the most in-demand family photographers in Fort McMurray and said that now that he has the dad title, it’s been a gamechanger to how he feels about the subjects in front of his camera. It’s why he decided to take on the role of YMM Parent’s cover photographer.

“Without getting all mushy, twenty-twenty brought the birth of our daughter Évie. Being a parent has such a different meaning once you actually become one, and everything seems to change in an instant, and go, so, so fast. It’s hard to think that a year has gone by for our daughter already, and so I want to be able to help capture some moments for families in Fort McMurray, so it at least feels like they have a snapshot of now in a few years when their kids are all grown up.”

How to Enter

It’s simple! Send your favourite at-home photo to YMM Parent’s Editor-in-Chief at dawn@balsom.ca and share why you chose it.

Prize Package INCLUDES: Thomas Hopkins Photography Family Photo Shoot • Includes up to 10 professional digital photos. The Alley YMM Experience Package • One-hour of bowling and shoe rentals, a 24-inch pizza with appetizers and refreshments, as well as play cards for access to its arcade.

Contest Deadline:
April 17, 2021.

Our previous YMM Parent Cover Contest winners

Click on the covers above to check out our previous digital editions available online.

About the author

Dawn Booth

Editor-in-Chief at YMM Parent | dawn@balsom.ca

Dawn Booth is the Editor-in-Chief of YMM Parent Magazine and Your McMurray Magazine. She has actively worked in the Wood Buffalo region's media industry since residing in Fort McMurray in 2007.

Her passion is writing poetry and puts it at the forefront of the community through her volunteer work as the President of NorthWord Magazine. Most important, Booth puts her family of five first, which includes her husband Ryan and their three children, Landon, Dawson and Tessa.