The Soul of the Fraser
Free Film screening with filmmaker Q&A
Sunday June 4, 2pm, Raven’s Cry Theatre
Join us for a screening of this remarkable local film about the estuary of one of the mighty rivers that feeds the Salish Sea. Ken Ashley, Executive Producer will be present in a Q&A session after the film.
75% of the plants and animals are gone, and if we don’t act now they may be lost forever. Two young filmmakers embark to unmask the forgotten soul of Canada’s greatest ecological wonder.
Where millions of birds and billions of fish once thrived, now mere thousands struggle to co-exist with the unregulated growth of Metro-Vancouver. Local filmmakers Brendan Chu and Chris Jenkins explore the Fraser Estuary, the original river delta beneath the urban sprawl of Vancouver.
To solve the mysteries of this forgotten land, they meet with environmental activists, First Nations leaders, and specialized biologists. Led by indigenous wisdom and western studies, the filmmakers witness beautiful animals and mysterious sights. Soon, they see the “death of a thousand cuts” this once beautiful land has suffered through.
A new threat looms over the Fraser Estuary; in the migratory path of the fish and birds. Various concerned experts protest; ex-government workers reveal how environmental management has slipped into the hands of corporations and indigenous representatives describe how their stewardship is ignored by the decision makers of industry.
About Ken Ashley
Ken received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. at UBC in the Zoology Department, specializing in aquatic ecology, and an M.A.Sc. and Ph.D. at UBC in the Faculty of Applied Sciences in Civil and Environmental Engineering. He worked for the Ministry of Environment in the Fisheries Research Section for 28 years and is currently Director of the Rivers Institute at BCIT and a Professor in BCIT’s Ecological Restoration Program.
Door prize
Ken Ashley has donated three copies of the book The Soul of the Fraser. To be awarded by random draw.
Additional Resources
Comment Period ( ends June 8 ) on the Draft EAO (Environmental Assessment Office) referral materials for Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project. Click on “Submit Comment” to express your concern for the destruction of the estuary.
Raincoast Conservation Foundation. Featured in the film The Soul of the Fraser, their research has been crucial to providing data regarding estuary degradation. They have numerous other projects including salmon habitat protection/restoration, wolf tracking and protection, and whale research. A worthy organization for donations.