A visit to Campbell River

A new collection in the making!

After their trip to Bella Bella, British Columbia, the Ocean School team met with educators from Campbell River to get their insight on an upcoming collection. In partnership with the Hakai Institute, this new collection will address a hazard cascade caused by climate change that took place in Elliot Creek in 2020 and the impact it had on the salmon and Homalco Nation.

Education producers Heather De Lagran and Erika Sullivan met with ten educators from four different schools to discuss how the content will fit in with their curriculum, what stories Ocean School should tell and what kinds of activities could be developed. They also discussed a youth-driven film project with media teacher James Lewis. “We want to bring more student voices, as well as community and Homalco Nation perspectives into the content we already have,” said De Lagran. “This is the first time we have ever worked with a school or group of youth to create a film for Ocean School, and we are really excited about it!”

From the community to the classroom

It is crucial for the Ocean School team to meet with educators and local communities when working on a collection. We want them to be involved in the production process from start to finish. “I love reconnecting with educators. It gives me energy and grounds me again in the ‘why’ we do what we do at Ocean School. Chatting with teachers and getting to know their needs and what stands out to them as important content is so critical to the work we do,” explained De Lagran.

Being able to connect with educators and local communities is also a way for the team to see their work in action. “Teachers inform our work in an immense way and being able to meet physically with them and collaborate in person is so invigorating!” said Sullivan. “The educators in Campbell River were incredibly generous with their time and ideas and I can’t wait to see this new collection come together!”