Celebrating Climate and the Arts

World Water Day – March 22

Did you know that British Columbia is named after the Columbia River which used to be one of the world’s largest salmon bearing rivers in the world?

In honour of World Water Day, Creatively United for the Planet Society presents our newest film, Changing Course: A River’s Journey of Reconnection.

This 60-minute documentary film explores the degradation of what was once one of the most productive salmon rivers in the world. It looks at the dams and storages that eliminated wild salmon from the main stem of the river in Canada, and how this loss cut the heart out of Indigenous culture throughout the basin. The film also touches on the Columbia River Treaty, which came into force between Canada and the United States in 1964. At the time, it had a very narrow focus on flood control and hydropower. Sixty years later, however, new thinking is needed to ensure a sustainable future for this important river. In Changing Course: A River’s Journey of Reconnection, leading voices from Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities eloquently express the need for new approaches to water management and governance that are more connected to nature, account for climate change, and meaningfully include First Nations leadership.

Please visit Creatively United’s YouTube channel to view this film and see Creatively United’s many other offerings.

Metamorphosis: A Healing Journey

Theatrical Performance and Book Launch

Get your ticket(s) now and take advantage of early-bird ticket prices

Shipping available upon request (additional fees will apply)

Two performances only:
Saturday, April 27: Doors at 7 pm, Performance 7:30-9 pm
Sunday, April 28: Doors at 1:30 pm, Performance 2-3:30 pm
Special early-bird pricing available until April 15th.
Open seating and wheelchair accessible.

Metamorphosis: A Healing Journey is a multi-dimensional experience that features the cathartic stories of real people, many of them artists, whose relationship with nature changed after a life changing event. Live music, stunning visual imagery, poetry, the Victoria Philharmonic Choir and Raino Dance are part of this unique production focused on the inter-relatedness of personal and planetary health.

A half hour before and after showtimes, there will be an opportunity to preview and purchase the accompanying fine art book, Metamorphosis: A Healing Journey, featuring 120 pages of beautiful photography, poetry, quotes and short pieces that inspire contemplation & expanded consciousness. Contributors include: Sam Baardman, Krystal Cook, Frances Litman, Alex Taylor-McCallum, Jonathan O’Riordan, Monique Salez and Robert Sandford.

Producer: Frances Litman. Director: Monique Salez. Outside Eye: Lynda Raino.

A CreativelyUnited.org collaborative production in partnership with Climate & The Arts

Creative Solutions for a New World Webinar Series

Since 2012, Creatively United has hosted large, in-person, zero-waste Earth Day events in celebration of community – until the arrival of Covid in 2020.

Like many others, we pivoted to online learning and engagement with a free Climate and Artists webinar series. More than 40 timeless webinars, featuring an incredible array of world-class presenters, authors, and artists, can be found on Creatively United’s YouTube channel, with a few examples below.

Please be sure to sign up for our newsletter to stay informed with occasional updates about upcoming events and information.

We’re All In This Together… Now What? – Season 4 Finale

We’re All in This Together… Now What?, the final webinar of Creatively United’s Climate and Artists fourth season, explores how we can collectively reduce our carbon footprint by 40% by 2030 and transformatively shift to…

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Amplifying Youth Voices in the Fight Against Climate Change

The 10 year anniversary of Creatively United for the Planet’s first Earth Day event was celebrated with an incredible panel of youth voices that featured five young Canadian changemakers working in creative ways to help…

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Housing That Heals The Future 

Housing That Heals the Future features nine inspiring interviews on a wide range of projects that are charting the future towards healthier, happier communities. This information rich webinar also includes the incredible new…

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Mark Angelo’s The Little Creek That Could

The Little Creek that Could is a children’s story written by Mark Angelo celebrating his life long commitment to bringing degraded urban streams back to life.

Mark Angelo is a globally renowned conservationist, teacher and writer who is an Order of Canada recipient for his successes in restoring rivers both locally and around the world. He is the founder of World Rivers day now celebrated in 100 countries. He has paddled more that 1000 rivers worldwide with his work being featured in several films.

Mark lives in Burnaby with his family where he undertook the restoration of Guichon Creek.

Mark is an inspiration to us all.

A Cellobration of Nature

Eight cellists from University of Victoria Cello class, under the direction of Pamela Highbaugh Aloni, recently debuted a new composition by Hollas Longton, featuring the poems of Creatively United’s Frances Litman. The commission, funded by the Gail O’Riordan Climate and the Arts Legacy Fund, is presented here with Frances reading and illustrating the pieces with her outdoor nature videography. This compilation is less than 4 minutes with footage from southern Vancouver Island.

Trees Matter Premiere – A Creative Collaboration

National Tree Day (Sept. 22nd), marked the launch of the world premiere of Trees Matter, a 7-minute film produced by Creatively United for the Planet non-profit society with support from the Gail O’Riordan Climate and Arts Legacy Fund and the City of Victoria.

Through music, dance, song and stunning visuals, the importance of protecting, preserving and planting trees is artfully expressed in this unique collaboration involving members of the Victoria Symphony, the Victoria Philharmonic Choir, the Emily Carr String Quartet and Ballet Victoria.

In addition to showing Trees Matter, this half hour launch event, included Leq’á:mel First Nation (Stó:lō Nation) Indigenous Leader, Patrick Kelly, plus a Fairy Creek old growth forest update with popular singer/songwriter, Luke Wallace and ecoforestry advocate, Kathleen Code.

Awaken Forest Ballet

If you love our forests and trees, please share this special short film produced by Creatively United in collaboration with Ballet Victoria.

Awaken, an exquisitely intimate performance inspired by the soft whispers of the forest, features original music composed, sung and orchestrated by Canada’s multi award-winning legend, Ann Mortifee, in collaboration with former Chilliwack band member, Ed Henderson (guitar), and Finn Manniche (cello).

Awaken debuted at Ballet Victoria’s live opening night performance of The Little Prince this past year.

The story follows the delightful journey of a young girl and her dog who discover the magical wonders of the forest thanks to guidance from forest sprites.

Shot in one of the few remaining intact wild urban forests on private land in Victoria, BC, the film Awaken was created to help bring awareness to the importance of protecting and preserving forest habitat. We will share more details about ways to save the forest shown here. Stay tuned.

The Gail O’Riordan Climate and the Arts Legacy Series is proud to have supported this worthwhile project. We thankfully acknowledge the  Westcoast Sacred Arts Society for their contribution to this project.

“You have touched my heart and that of my wife. We both just watched the video, wow!”

“I believe in truth and beauty at the core of existence and you demonstrate that and affirm it time and time again. This video takes us on a magical journey in one of our islands beautiful and unique forests. Our imagination is set free to wander with these lovely forest sprites who exemplify grace and serenity.”

“Creatively United only gets better and better.” – Dan and Jitka K

Mountain Road Forest Success!!!

Thank YOU to all the supporters of the Mountain Road Forest campaign for stepping up to save this precious jewel of undeveloped forest land and rich biodiverse ecosystem.

Located in the Interurban/Quayle Road area of Saanich, Mountain Road Forest features 49-acres of magnificent mature second growth Douglas Fir forests, Garry Oak meadows, rare Arbutus groves and a fresh water stream that forms part of the headwaters of the salmon-bearing Colquitz Creek.

Thanks to the property owners’ stewardship, dedication and perseverance for more than 10 years in seeking and enabling a conservation-based outcome, the CRD’s pledge of $2 million and more than $1.1 million donated by individuals, businesses and organizations. The owners of the Mountain Road Forest property have agreed to work with CRD and others to bring the final resources to bear to save this special place for generations to come. A big shout out to the Habitat Acquisition Trust (HAT) for spearheading this campaign.

Creatively United produced this video in partnership with Ballet Victoria, Canada’s multi award-winning musical legend, Ann Mortifee, famed guitarist Ed Henderson, and cellist Finn Manniche to help raise awareness of the importance of urban forests like Mountain Road.

All Content © 2021
The Gail O’Riordan Climate & the Arts Fund