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Food supply

Local Filmmaker's Documentary Highlights Community Supported Fishery in Vancouver Island

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The documentary Sea to Land, directed and produced by Michelle Tremblay, tells the story of Vancouver Island's first Community Supported Fishery (CSF) and its impact on the marine environment. The film follows west coast fisherman Guy Johnston as he works to reduce the carbon footprint of his catch, increase local food security, and counteract climate change. The CSF, a 14-year initiative led by Johnston, has been a model for sustainability and community support. As Tremblay notes, "The present moment has made it very clear just how precarious our food system is," highlighting the need for re-localizing food supply chains in the face of trade wars and environmental factors.

Key Takeaways:

  • Michelle Tremblay's documentary Sea to Land showcases the story of Vancouver Island's first Community Supported Fishery (CSF), led by Guy Johnston, which aims to reduce carbon footprint, increase local food security, and counteract climate change.
  • The CSF has been a model for sustainability and community support over the past 14 years, with Johnston making changes to his boat and fishing practices to promote environmental sustainability.
  • The film was sponsored by StoryHive and Creative B.C. and boasts a local crew from Vancouver Island, with many crew members and collaborators from Cowichan Valley and Victoria.
  • The documentary highlights the importance of re-localizing food supply chains in the face of trade wars and environmental factors, emphasizing the need for a local, robust, and sustainable food supply system in Canada.
  • The film's crew and collaborators include numerous individuals from the Vancouver Island community, including cinematographer Michael Andringa, sound designer Zak Cowen, and music composer Torsten Gran-Ruaz.
  • The documentary is a collaborative effort, with Tremblay expressing pride in the community support and collaboration that went into creating the film.

Statistics:

  • 14 years: The length of time that Guy Johnston has led the Community Supported Fishery initiative.
  • 30 years: The number of years that the Michelle Rose has been in the Cowichan Valley.
  • 25 minutes: The length of the documentary film.
  • $8: The ticket price for viewing the documentary at The HUB.

Sources:

  • Cowichan Valley Citizen: "Local filmmaker's documentary highlights community supported fishery in Vancouver Island" (date not specified, but archived content from 2025).
  • Michelle Rose CSF: (no specific source or website mentioned in the article).
  • StoryHive: (no specific source or website mentioned in the article).
  • Creative B.C.: (no specific source or website mentioned in the article).
  • Cowichan Watershed Board: (no specific source or website mentioned in the article).

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