Laurentian University student Cassidy McAuliffe grew up on the north shore of Lake Panache near Whitefish.
She said she owes her love of the environment to that lake. It's where her grandparents live, and her family spent countless hours there, swimming, fishing, camping and bonding.
“That lake has had a really big impact on my life, so I wanted to capture it on film,” said the science communications student. “I've had so many wonderful conversations with my mummu (grandmother) there, and she's told me so many stories.”
So she spent seven months turning her story into a four-minute documentary as part of the Doc Institutes New Vision Incubator program. The program prepares students to go out and shoot their own documentaries following seven months of learning.
McAuliffe had her film finished by the time the course was complete.
“'Call of the Lake' is about the intergenerational relationship we have in my family with Lake Panache,” she said.
To watch the video, click here.
When Heart to Home Meal launched its Show a Little Heart video competition earlier this year to illustrate how younger generations can benefit from maintaining relationships with seniors, she said she felt her life on Lake Panache would make a fitting subject matter.
It would seem a four-judge panel agreed.
McAuliffe was recently named the winner of the contest. She was presented with the $1,000 prize money on June 8 at the Parkside Centre.
“My film fit so perfectly to what they were looking for in the competition,” she said. “It was amazing to win first place. The money is nice, but the recognition I'm getting and the positive feedback has blown my mind. I'm glad so many people have had the opportunity to watch it.”
Matt Diestl, marketing manager from Heart to Home Meals, travelled to Sudbury to present the cheque. He said June 1 is Intergenerational Day and the start to Senior's Month in Ontario, and Heart to Home Meals wanted to tie in a video competition and challenge students from colleges and universities to put together a three- to five-minute video about the relationship they have with someone in their lives.
“We had 20 entries, and Cassidy's video was the clear choice as the winner,” Diestl said. “It was emotional, it had fantastic video quality, and it really displayed that bond that youth of today are finding with seniors in their lives. The hope going forward is to host this competition every year.”
McAuliffe said she plans to invest her prize money into more camera equipment.
