From swimming with wild dolphins and whales in the ocean to getting up close and personal with monkeys in the jungles of Borneo and elephants in Thailand, award-winning Vancouver Island filmmaker Patricia Sims has always kept a passionate eye on conservation.
Sims has produced documentaries around the world, focusing on nature and conservation education, and the interrelationships between humans and animals. She has collaborated with some of the world’s leading conservation celebrities, scientists and explorers, with a specialization in wildlife and oceanographic productions.
You could say she does her life’s work outside of most people’s comfort zone.
We couldn’t pass up the chance to ask this fascinating professional about how she got started, what keeps her going and where she plans on going from here.
Q: How did you get involved in the film industry?
A: I studied film and television in Toronto at the Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly known as Ryerson University). At that time, the film and television industry was very active in Toronto and I was able to start working as a production assistant on commercials and music videos. I worked very hard and knocked on a lot of doors and was hired as a director’s assistant on American productions that were filming in Toronto. On those productions, I learned a lot about working as a director on large film sets. I’ve always been a storyteller and was very keen on learning how to be a writer and director. I had my first directing break on music videos and commercials, which eventually led to me working at CityTV MuchMusic as a creative producer on various shows. My biggest passion was to tell stories about environmental issues, nature and animals, and eventually I had the opportunity at CItyTV to produce and direct my first documentary called For the Love of Dolphins. The success of that project led me to a lot of new opportunities to work in Canada, and internationally, which is the path that I have been on ever since.
Q: What would you like people to know about the film industry on Vancouver Island?
A: There are many talented and creative people in the film industry living and working on Vancouver Island, who have had success here and in other markets. We have some of the most spectacular landscapes and locations in the country, and there is a lot of interest here to build our film industry and community to attract productions from other parts of Canada, the USA and the world. One of the biggest challenges we face here as an industry, is the lack of infrastructure, such as studio spaces, production facilities and equipment rentals, which has made it challenging for many production companies to set up their operations here. But I believe that this is changing as more people are discovering what a great place this is to live and work from. I believe it is really important to nurture and educate the new and emerging talent working in film, music, technology and media here, so that we can continue to grow and offer a unique presence in the industry.
Q: Tell our readers a bit about what you and your team do at CanazWest Pictures.
A: Canazwest Pictures is a Victoria-based independent production company. We produce documentaries, series and digital content for the media landscape. Our primary focus has been environmental, nature and wildlife stories, but we focus on other content too. Our latest production is a documentary series entitled Ravishing Rags and it’s about vintage fashion collectors. Our productions have been seen on Canadian and international networks. We also provide production and postproduction services to other companies.
Q: What inspired you to create CanazWest Pictures?
A: As a media professional, artist and content creator who has also kept a passionate eye on nature and wildlife conservation, I wanted to form a company that enabled me to create projects and follow stories that portray important issues, people and environments. Inspiring, informing, educating and entertaining viewers has always been the focus of my projects.
Q: What is your favourite part about working in the film industry?
A: My favourite part of the film industry and filmmaking process is collaborating with great people, synergizing inspiration and creative energy, and being able to bring ideas, images and stories to life.
Q: What is the most challenging part of your job?
A: As an independent filmmaker, producer and artist, the most challenging part of the job is fundraising for projects. It is a very competitive industry—definitely not for the faint of heart—and while it’s always important to maintain a positive attitude and belief in your ideas, it’s also important to be practically minded about the feasibilities of the project you’re working on.
Q: What has been your favourite project/film/production to work on to-date and why?
A: My favourite projects have been the two documentaries that I produced and directed in Thailand about elephants: Return to the Forest and When Elephants Were Young. I made both films with co-filmmaker and editor Michael Clark, who is an associate of my company. Both of these documentaries have made a positive impact in the elephant conservation movement and led me to create the global annual awareness day, known as World Elephant Day, which I founded in 2012 and still lead today. World Elephant Day is now in its 13th annual campaign year and reaches millions of people each year, bringing the world together on the plight of African and Asian elephants, and the conservation solutions required to protect them.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I have just returned from Kenya, where I was photographing and filming African elephants for a feature documentary that I am developing, and book that I am writing. The film and book are about my work with elephants, and other wildlife, and what has happened in the environmental conservation movement over the past 30 years.
Q: What do you hope viewers learn from your latest project?
A: I hope viewers will learn that our role here on Earth is to take care of each other, the environment and the other creatures that we share this planet with, to ensure not only their survival, but our survival as well.
Q: Is there a quote or motto that guides you in life and/or your work that you would like to share?
A: “It is better to lose yourself in your passion than to lose your passion.”
Q: Is there anything else you would like GRAND Magazine readers to know?
A: Get out and support local artists, musicians and filmmakers. We have a fantastic creative community here and it’s this collective creativity that defines the beauty of the diverse cultures living on Vancouver Island.
Learn more about Sims and Canazwest Pictures at