Sea To Land is made possible with the support from TELUS STORYHIVE.
The documentary looks at Vancouver Island's first Community Supported Fishery (CSF), by following the life of a west coast fisherman and seeing how he works to have a positive impact on the marine environment that sustains him. The CSF is a way to reduce the carbon footprint of his catch, increase local food security and counteract climate change. The film weaves together scientists, researchers, community members and fishers of the BC coast.
We go on a journey and see the life of a fisherman at sea featuring the stunning backdrop of B.C.’s coast.
I love telling stories and saw the opportunity to share the story of how the Community Supported Fishery was created in Cowichan Bay, the first for Vancouver Island. I am grateful for the film crew and everyone who participated in making the documentary. The film features original music by Torsten Gran-Ruaz.
How the CSF works and benefits all, including the eco-system
Food security in the community (shortening the food supply chain)
The impact Climate Change has on us and the environment
Social justice (fair wages for CSF crew)
Guy has been a fisherman for all his working life. Based in Cowichan Bay, British Columbia, he fishes the coast from his home port to Haida Gwaii.
The CSF has grown out of looking for a balance between the economics of fishing, biological sustainability and the importance of community.
Michelle has been involved in the Vancouver Island theatre communities as an actor, producer, director and teacher for the past 30 years. She also worked as a bilingual stage actor in Vancouver, Ottawa, and Montreal. She was the co-founder of Theatre Cabale, a company in Victoria, acting as artistic director for seven years.
In June 2023 she began studying at INIS -National Institute College of Images and Sound and in July at ETCQ - Ecole de television et cinema, Quebec. These two courses enabled her to get a better foundation for the work involved in the filming of Sea to Land. Michelle continues to study in order to hone her craft.
I was raised in Quebec City and moved to British Columbia in my early twenties, where I met my future husband, a fisherman. I worked alongside him for five years, before eventually raising our two children, on and off the boat. As a young girl in Quebec City, I never expected to be part of a fishing family on the west coast of Canada.
Throughout Guy’s fishing career, I saw his lifelong engagement to environmental activism unfold. Fifteen years ago, in an effort to intentionally localize his product he started the Community Supported Fishery (CSF). I was inspired by his commitment to improve his personal impact on climate change and food security. The filming of Sea to Land has been my personal contribution of spreading awareness.
The documentary was made to highlight how one person’s small actions do have a huge impact on our global community and the environment. I hope this documentary will leave audiences inspired to engage in their community, and what matters to them most. For me it has always been storytelling, and that’s why I chose to share the story of Guy, a fisherman who started the first Community Supported Fishery on Vancouver Island.
If you would like my film for your festival, or have any questions, please let me know.