Hatcheries and health centres and grizzlies, oh my! Adventures with Homalco First Nation…

Boy, what a summer it’s been for the Homalco First Nation!  First, they celebrated the culmination of eight years worth of work in opening the Homalco Health Centre on July 15th.  I was honoured to speak as Acting Mayor at the opening on behalf of Campbell River city council and congratulate them on their achievement.    Unveiled at the event were several carvings and works of art that would find a new home further north at Orford Bay during another prestigious event a month later.  That event was to celebrate the opening of the Homalco First Nation interpretive centre, a key piece of their Homalco Wildlife Tour program that gets you up close and personal with grizzlies feeding in the Orford River.  It was a great opportunity to hear how the returns of their salmon hatchery efforts would literally feed into the success of their grizzly tours.  Thanks to local adventure tour company Eagle Eye Adventures, their fantastic and knowledgeable guide Nick,  and their new owner Jos I was able to attend the event by zodiac, and capture our adventures at the event and along the way.  Make sure you watch the video not only for Chief Richard Harry’s summary of the big day, but for some great footage of orcas, black bears and other wildlife we witnessed that day.   Then say hi to Jos and Nick and the gang at Eagle Eye Adventures to book your trip to see the grizzlies through Homalco Wildlife Tours!

Calling all Campbell River and area loggers who want to be in the new SUPERMAN movie!

As one of the biggest movie fans you’ll find, and as a proud supporter of the work of the Vancouver Island North Film Commission (INFILM), I was super excited to hear that the new Superman movie starring Kevin Costner and Russell Crowe would be filming some segments in our neighbourhood (that’s on top of the G.I. Joe 2 stuff already in the area).  Having been an extra in a few films myself (Legends of the Fall, Big Bully, Excess Baggage) I can say it’s a very interesting experience and you meet a lot of great people. 

Ryan Mennie in centre, smiling away, so excited to be in a scene with Brad Pitt and Henry Thomas

Gettin’ wet in the trenches filming Legends Of The Fall in 1993!

Dressed as a German Engineer right of gatling gun in Legends

Top centre of screen as a German soldier, firing at myself as a Canadian next scene!

Well, there’s officially a chance now for YOU to be in the SUPERMAN movie!  These are the details from the INFILM extras casting call at http://www.infilm.ca/newsmodule/view/id/206/src/@random41940a897e943/

 

OPEN EXTRAS CASTING CALL IN NANAIMO

By: infilm on 08/15/11

A major studio film from Warner Bros. and the Director of “300″ seeks paid extras in to work in the Nanaimo area. Men, women, of all ages & all types – are encouraged to apply.
Especially hope to find some good older Character Faces, and some strong looking LumberJack types. We will need some women, some with Waitress experience as well.
No children required for this work.
The film is shooting in Nanaimo area Early October. Commitment would be 1 to 2 days TBD.
Those interested should attend the open casting call below or submit a photo and contact information online at
Movieextrasearch@shaw.ca
Open Casting Call:
Saturday August 20th 2pm to 6pm. Benson Room The Coast Bastion Hotel 11 Bastion Street Nanaimo. BC
Must be a legal resident of Canada to apply.
NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

And more details at this site:   http://www.supermanhomepage.com/news.php?readmore=10176

Good luck with the casting… let me know if you get called back! 

Movies Under The Stars returns to Campbell River Wed. August 24th 2011

Not to be confused with Sunset Cinema that we had in Campbell River about a month ago (with the movie Rango) “Movies Under The Stars” returns to Willow Point Park (the Sportsplex field) Wednesday, August 24th! Last year’s presentation was entertaining and educational… the education supplied by Comox Strathcona Waste Management and partners, and the entertainment on the big screen was Toy Story 3. This year, the “pre-show messaging and information about helping to build healthy communities through waste reduction initiatives and sustainability” returns, along with a CLASSIC movie from 1982. Did you see this on the big screen the year it came out? If you missed it at the theatre or at the drive-in… or still have the doll and want to relive the moment, make sure you round up the kids and the lawn chairs to see THIS:

E.T. will fly past the moon in Campbell River August 24th!

Henry Thomas demonstrates "reusing" a plastic box...

How cool is that?  Did I mention I was in a movie with Henry Thomas, the kid in the red jacket?  Okay… that’s a story for another time.  Nice guy. 

Back on topic, I have learned quite a bit about reducing, reusing, recycling and recovering from the experts in my time as an alternate director on the Comox Strathcona Waste Management committee. 

 

To add even MORE fun to the night, Comox Strathcona Waste Management is giving you the chance to win FRONT ROW SEATS (yes, you even get to KEEP the comfy adirondack chairs)at the show plus snacks at THIS LINK.  Follow the directions on how to enter on their facebook page and tell them what you do to support the solution to zero waste in our community.

 

Again, it’s a free presentation… bring your blankies and lawn chairs.  The show starts at dusk.  And if you still have this little guy, bring him too! 

Remember this guy? Still own one?

 

(No, that’s not mine.  I… gave mine away.  Years ago.) 

 

Delivering Buddy Bears to the Campbell River Hospital Foundation from the 3rd Annual Variety Children’s Radiothon

Hospital Foundation Executive Director Stacey Marsh is officially handed one of the 207 Buddy Bears donated by local businesses and individuals in this year's Variety Children's Radiothon. Reina Mennie, daughter of Ryan Mennie, is pleased to do the honours!

It was a beautiful, sunny day outside the Campbell River Hospital where my daughter Reina and I held an impromptu Teddy Bear Picnic with Stacey Marsh, Executive Director with the Campbell River Hospital Foundation.  Okay, okay… it was actually a photo shoot set up by my wife Ludy to capture the fantastic results from this year’s 3rd Annual Variety Children’s Radiothon on 97.3 The Eagle.   Each bear has a wristband featuring the name given to it by it’s donor.  The bears will be given as an extra boost of encouragement and support to children receiving treatment at the Campbell River Hospital.  Through bear purchases and other donations by Campbell River and area community members, this year’s radiothon raised $35,632 for Variety The Children’s Charity.  That money (and more, courtesy Variety) will return to our community to support local families and children’s organizations.

Stacey Marsh, Reina and Ryan Mennie, and a whole lotta Buddy Bears!

Photos by Ludy Mennie of Mennie Memories Photography