B.C.’S film industry united to raise $165,000 in support of ecological conservation and enhancement projects in seven Metro Vancouver regional parks.
During ten business days leading up to Earth Day 2021, the inaugural REEL Earth Day Challenge encouraged collaboration and competition across the entire industry by bringing crews, productions, suppliers, vendors and other industry stakeholders together in the spirit of giving and environmental sustainability.
The Challenge is a collaborative industry initiative organized by Creative BC’s sustainable motion picture initiative Reel Green, supporting the work of the Pacific Parklands Foundation.
“The motion picture industry works, lives and depends on regional parks across B.C. and acknowledges their location on the unceded ancestral lands and waters of many Indigenous nations,” said Prem Gill, CEO of Creative BC, on Monday. “REEL Earth Day Challenge fundraises to give back to many of these green spaces in Metro Vancouver that sustain us all. It’s one important part of Reel Green’s overall activities, which unite industry in concrete actions that reduce its carbon footprint.”
Metro Vancouver’s regional parks have hosted many film productions over the years. As filming locations, they continue to play a key role in the industry’s success, having hosted 49 productions and the equivalent of 360 film activity days in 2019 alone.
“As majestic backdrops for countless film and television productions, Metro Vancouver’s regional parks have earned a spot on centre stage both for their scenery and their incredible contributions to the environmental health and livability of our region,” said John McEwen, Chair of Metro Vancouver’s Regional Parks Committee. “That is why we are delighted that B.C.’s vibrant film industry shares in our vision to protect and enhance our regional parks.”
The Pacific Parklands Foundation, a registered charity established to support Metro Vancouver’s Regional Parks system, will put the money raised toward the following projects:
- reforesting Aldergrove Regional Park
- creating a pollinators meadow in Pacific Spirit Regional Park
- planting native species at Sapperton Landing in the Brunette Fraser Regional Greenway
- removing invasive species in the Capilano River Regional Park
- protecting rare ecosystems in Boundary Bay Regional Park
- restoring forested habitats at Kanaka Creek and Tynehead regional parks by returning previously disturbed sites back to their natural environment.
“For more than 20 years, the Pacific Parklands Foundation has dedicated its time and resources to supporting Metro Vancouver in ensuring regional parks are well protected and preserved,” said Kevin O’Callaghan, President of the Pacific Parklands Foundation. “This significant contribution will benefit the ecological health of regional parks, and we gratefully applaud the impressive fundraising efforts of Creative BC and the B.C. film industry.”
Fifteen teams participated in the challenge, with The Scriptures (Warner Brothers) coming out on top by raising $51,676. They were followed by Big Sky (A&E/ABC) at $22,518, and The Imperfects (Nomadic) at $21,840. More than 400 donors contributed to the challenge.
For more information on the REEL Earth Day Challenge, visit reelearthdaychallenge.
