Collingwood’s Gayety Theatre hosted a film, food, drink and musical event of Great Bear–like proportions last week. The packed fund- and “friend”-raiser for local educational charity Elephant Thoughts featured a silent auction while Juno-nominated folk musician Craig Cardiff provided the heartfelt sounds; a spectacularly tasty multi-station dinner by Bruce Wine Bar with a smorgasbord of local food producers; and refreshment courtesy of Northwinds Brewhouse and Lifford Wines.

The evening’s focus was local but also spanned the country. The documentary film STAND is a plea to help protect the Great Bear Rainforest wilderness of coastal BC and the locals whose way of life is threatened by the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline. Everyone attending received a copy of the Mountain Life Annual, which features an article about the ongoing fight for Great Bear.

The film features a 350-kilometre standup paddleboard expedition showcasing the narrow inlets and stunning coastlines of the Great Bear  and the mystical archipelago of Haida Gwaii. The film shows exactly what’s in jeopardy should a supertanker carrying pipeline bitumen run aground – something all Canadians should be aware of.