On Thursday, April 24, 2025, in celebration of Earth Day, Hopeful! Communities, an organization located in beautiful Smithers in north-central British Columbia, will be having their inaugural Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour Event at The Old Church. There will be eight films, door prizes ranging from coffee to hand-built charcuterie boards, and treats by a local artisanal baker. There will also be a short intermission when the audience can learn more about the Hopeful! organization and its objectives.
HOPEFUL! is a grassroots movement inspiring positive action for the environment. The movement hopes to overcome pervasive cynicism by suggesting initiatives to incorporate into everyday life. Over time, those cumulative actions will benefit our sense of well-being, the community and Planet Earth.
People of all ages are experiencing eco-anxiety. It’s no wonder! We are inundated with bad news stories regarding a range of issues from global warming to rising sea levels, fires to droughts and the list goes on. Young people expect to suffer the consequences of climate change and, as a result, are more fearful of their future. The negative scenarios can lead to depression, fear, and anger, all of which paralyze positive action.
HOPEFUL! knows that major players are at work researching and implementing ways to fight climate change and prevent increasing carbon levels; however, at the individual level, it’s not surprising that there is a feeling of helpless.
People crave ACTION! People are desperate to feel HOPEFUL!
Evidence suggests that personal happiness increases when we take steps to reduce carbon. Hopeful!
Janet Harris, a volunteer with HOPEFUL!, says, “Hosting a WSFF On Tour Event helps HOPEFUL by raising awareness of the group’s goals and potentially raising funds toward future projects. A highlight of putting on the event is bringing the community together to celebrate Earth Day and to learn, through film, what others are doing to make the world a better place.”
