Vancouver Island Chronicles on CHEK TV is a series of half-hour documentaries featuring the people of the Island and the Comox Valley. Produced by Edward Homer, the programs, for the most part, feature Islanders making a positive contribution in their communities. Homer has worked in broadcast television for over 30 years and the programs are well crafted and entertaining.
“Working as an EFP editor at CBC Vancouver from 1985 to 1993 was a great experience,” said Homer. “I had the opportunity to work on some of the best documentary programming of the day with some very talented people.”
Homer said his departure from CBC was a preemptive strike on his part. It was just a matter of time before his position would be eliminated. If he wanted to stay he would have to “bump” someone out of a lower group position.
Instead he left and moved his young family to the Island.
“For us, coming to the Island was a no brainer,” he said. “What we had always enjoyed about spending time here were the people we encountered.”
After a two-year sabbatical recuperating from 13 years of deadline pressures working in a major television market, he was ready to get back to work and pursue his dream: documentary story telling. Since 1995 his work has been screened on most television networks in Canada and film festivals all over the world. He has a couple of awards on the shelf and an extensive list of credits as a producer/director.
His subjects are varied: Robin and Sylvia Campbell of the Wildlife Recovery Centre in Errington, Merve Wilkinson (Order of Canada and Order of BC), Joe Saysel and the Cowichan River, Andrew Bryant and his work with the VI Marmots. “What I love about the Island is the way people take action to bring about positive change,” said Homer.
Since 2010 he has been developing a YouTube channel with videos from his library as well as new work.
Many of the new vignettes feature the Comox Valley.
“We moved here in 2007 and I fell in love with this community right away,” he said. “People here take care of each other. I live near the base of Mount Washington and my neighbours welcomed us with open arms and made us feel right at home. Something else I have observed here is that volunteerism in this Valley is off the charts.”
Many of the stories on his YouTube channel and his series on CHEK TV showcase non-profits run by volunteers. The Tsolum River Restoration Society, Adaptive Snow Sports on Mount Washington, Classic Cruisers and the Cumberland motorcycle shows, 19 Wing Museum, Courtenay Rod and Gun, Vancouver Island MusicFest are just a few of the non-profit organizations profiled on Vancouver Island Chronicles.
“I really enjoyed spending time with the Tsolum River Restoration Society,” said Homer. “What a great story. People in this Valley should be very proud of their work.”
The TRRS is not finished yet, moving forward they are working to restore the watershed and continue to rely on volunteers.
“If you are looking to get involved this is a great project run by great people.”
Homer will turn 60 this year but he is not finished yet.
“It’s kind of funny,” he said. “With the new advances in computers I am pushing my creative boundaries more than I ever have. I am excited about the next 10 years.”
Check out his show on CHEK TV Sundays at 3:30 p.m. The series repeats as new shows are added. Also check out his YouTube channel. There are scenes from all of the episodes, often in series form.
For more information, go to comoxvallyartsandlife.com
You will find links to play lists, schedule information and more. With over 400 videos and 1.3 million views and counting it really is a celebration of Island life.