Heloise Dixon-Warren
Observer Contributor
The Friends of Bouchie-Milburn Society (FoBM) are excited to host the community premiere of a new film, Up 6 Mile, Down 9 Mile, on Tuesday, Aug. 7 at the Bouchie Lake Hall.
Created by Bouchie Lake film-maker Tracey Cochrane and produced by the FoBM, Up 6 Mile, Down 9 Mile was made possible with a Community Resilience Through Arts and Culture Program Grant that the FoBM received from the Province of British Columbia earlier this year.
This same grant supported the second annual Billie Bouchie Day Celebrations held May 25-26. This event focused on the contribution that the Métis, First Nations and early settlers made to our community and region. The event is named after William Walker Boucher (“Billie Bouchie”), who was the first permanent settler of Bouchie Lake, acquiring land in the community on May 27, 1902. Billie was the son of the famous Métis Voyageur Jean Baptiste Boucher and Nancy McDougall of Fort St. James, and was born in Fort Alexandria.
Up 6 Mile, Down 9 Mile is a 20-minute film that captures some of the people, places and history of the communities of Bouchie Lake and Milburn Lake. It includes footage from Billie Bouchie Day celebrations and of the area from both the air and ground. Several long-term residents were interviewed, and some of their stories were captured on film. Interviewees include Richard Armstrong, Leah Seabrook, Alan Sanford, Ellen Landrud, Ken Falloon, Gary Hartley, Hod Smith, Terry Boucher and Destinee Boyd.
It’s is the first short film ever filmed on location in Bouchie Lake about our community. The Friends of Bouchie-Milburn are excited about the film and to have worked with Tracey Cochrane. Cochrane has another film currently circulating the film festivals of North America, called Calm in Chaos. It has won 13 awards to date, three of which are for Best Documentary Feature.
All of the background music and song in Up 6 Mile, Down 9 Mile is locally produced by Taylor Waters, Garth East and No More Cries. The film captures a little bit of our community’s history and we hope it will bring people together to celebrate The People, The Place, The History of Bouchie-Milburn. The history shared in Up 6 Mile, Down 9 Mile is a taste of more to come.
The film premiere event will feature a concession on-site with popcorn, cotton candy, and hot dogs. There is no admission fee for the film, although a hat will be circulated. All proceeds will go towards the newly established Bouchie-Milburn Scholarship Fund for Bouchie-Milburn students graduating from School District 28 in 2019. Residents are encouraged to come early so they can enjoy some pre-movie entertainment and connect with others in the community.
The film showing takes place Aug. 7, 2018 at the Bouchie Lake Hall. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the film shown at 7:15 p.m. For additional information on Up 6 Mile, Down 9 Mile, the Friends of Bouchie-Milburn Society, or how to get involved with some heritage opportunities, contact bouchielakefriends@gmail.com. You can also call Leslie Holland, FoBM treasurer, at 250-249-5340 or Heloise Dixon-Warren, secretary, at 250-249-5329. We welcome the community to get involved.
Heloise Dixon-Warren is secretary of the Friends of Bouchie-Milburn Society.