What if something as simple as a worm could help a community reduce waste and protect the environment?

That's part of the story behind the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality's vermicomposting program in Fort Nelson, British Columbia.

Thanks so much for all of your efforts last week, it was fun to work on this project and I am really appreciative of how you and Octavian managed the schedule and the weather situation to make the most of your time in the community!

Hillary Sheppard, Community & Social Development Coordinator

The municipality had found a practical way to turn organic waste into useful compost. Instead of sending food scraps and yard waste to the landfill, residents could help return valuable nutrients to the soil.

And the idea had deep local roots.

Fort Nelson resident Wilf Hoath had developed a way to use earthworms to break down organic material, even through Northern BC's long, cold winters. His work helped lay the foundation for the municipality's vermicomposting program.

However, having a great program and getting people to use it are two different challenges.

Northern Rockies wanted more residents to understand how the system worked, why it mattered and how they could take part.

So, in 2023, the municipality partnered with Eagle Vision Video Productions, now EV Agency, to tell that story through video.

Our goal was to help turn an interesting environmental project into something people could easily understand and use.

What the Client Needed

Northern Rockies already had an educational video about its vermicomposting program. But municipal staff felt it wasn't connecting with enough people.

They wanted something more modern, engaging and accessible.

More importantly, they wanted residents to see that taking part was easier than they might think.

The project had three main goals:

• Build awareness: Explain what vermicomposting is and how it helps reduce waste.
• Encourage participation: Show residents how to collect suitable organic materials and bring them into the program.
• Improve accessibility: Use clear explanations, helpful visuals and subtitles to reach a wider audience.

There were also a few challenges to work around.

First, the production needed to happen in Fort Nelson. That meant coordinating travel, interviews, filming locations and access to the composting site.

Next, Northern BC weather played a part. The municipality preferred filming in June rather than May to avoid the rain and debris that often come with spring.

Finally, the videos needed to be accurate. Municipal staff and waste management specialists would review the content to make sure the environmental information was correct.

For Northern Rockies, success meant having an engaging video that could help residents understand the program and feel confident taking part.

The Plan We Mapped Out

We knew the best way to explain this program was to show it in action.

Rather than building the video around technical language, we wanted to tell the story through the people who knew the program best.

Working closely with Hillary Sheppard, the municipality's Community & Social Development Coordinator, we developed a plan that brought together interviews, practical demonstrations and footage of the facility.

1. Understand the program

We started by reviewing the municipality's existing video and background materials.

Then, we worked with Hillary and the Northern Rockies team to understand the program's history, goals and day-to-day operations.

This helped us identify the most important messages for residents.

2. Find the right voices

Next, we planned interviews with the people behind the program.

That included Wilf Hoath, who helped develop the local vermicomposting system, and Councillor Lorraine Gerwing, who could explain why the municipality supported the initiative.

We also wanted to show how everyday residents could participate.

3. Plan the filming

We organized two days of filming in Fort Nelson, with time set aside for interviews, community demonstrations and coverage of the vermicomposting facility.

Because we had several locations and people to coordinate, we worked with the municipality to build a practical schedule.

4. Build the story

After filming, we reviewed the interviews and footage, then began shaping the videos.

We focused on a clear story: why organic waste matters, how the local program began, how it works and what residents can do to help.

5. Review and refine

We shared the first video drafts with Northern Rockies and invited feedback.

The municipality's staff, Environmental Advisory Committee and technical consultants helped us improve the content.

We then adjusted the editing, wording and visuals to make the final message clearer.

By working closely with the people who understood the program, we could create videos that were both engaging and useful.

What We Delivered

The project resulted in two educational videos that Northern Rockies could use to introduce and explain its vermicomposting program.

Each video had a different purpose, but both shared the same message: small actions can help keep valuable organic material out of the landfill.

Full-Length Educational Video

The longer video explored the program in greater detail.

It brought together local interviews, the history of vermicomposting in Fort Nelson, footage of the facility and practical information about how residents could participate.

By hearing from the people involved, viewers could learn what makes the program work and why the municipality chose to support it.

The benefit: A detailed educational resource for community presentations, information sessions and online learning.

Short Educational Video

We also created a shorter version that focused on the main points.

It introduced the program, explained its environmental value and gave viewers a quicker way to understand the benefits of vermicomposting.

The benefit: A shorter video suited to social media, community outreach and other opportunities where people may have less time to watch.

Video Production Services

Our work included:

• Creative planning and scripting: Building a story around the program and its people.
• On-location filming: Capturing interviews, real operations and community demonstrations.
• Video editing: Bringing the footage together into two clear, easy-to-follow stories.
• Colour correction: Improving the look and consistency of footage filmed under changing conditions.
• Titles and visual information: Helping explain important ideas and practical steps.
• Accessibility planning: Preparing the videos for subtitles on supported platforms.

Together, these services gave Northern Rockies two ways to share its program with the community.

How We Captured the Story (On-the-Ground Approach)

One of the best parts of this project was meeting the people who brought the program to life.

Vermicomposting might sound like a technical subject, but behind the process was a great local story.

Wilf Hoath had spent years working with worms and finding ways to make composting work in Northern BC's climate. His knowledge and experience helped show what was possible with a simple idea and a willingness to try something different.

We wanted that story to lead the way.

Putting local people first

Our interviews helped connect the program to the community.

Wilf explained how the system worked and how it developed.

Councillor Lorraine Gerwing shared the municipality's perspective, including the value of keeping organic waste out of the landfill.

We also captured examples of residents taking part, showing that vermicomposting wasn't just something happening behind the scenes at a waste facility.

It was something the community could help make work.

Showing how it works

We spent time filming the vermicomposting process itself.

That included footage of the facility, organic materials being handled and the steps involved in collecting and dropping off waste.

These scenes were important because they helped explain the process without relying on long technical descriptions.

For example, instead of simply telling people to separate their food scraps, we could show what that looked like.

And instead of only talking about compost, we could show the operation that turns organic material into something useful.

Making the most of our time in Fort Nelson

Filming in Northern BC always calls for some flexibility.

During our June production, smoky conditions affected the appearance of some outdoor footage. We also had several interviews and locations to cover in a short window.

Joseph Kafka and Octavian Grecu worked with the Northern Rockies team to manage the schedule and adjust as needed.

After filming, we used colour correction to improve the appearance of affected footage.

It was a good example of why careful planning matters, especially when working in remote and northern communities.

Keeping the message accurate

The editing process also involved careful attention to the environmental information.

For example, the municipality's technical advisors wanted the videos to place more focus on keeping food and yard waste out of the landfill.

They also helped clarify how cardboard was used in the composting process and how that differed from accepted organic feedstock.

We worked through those changes with the client, adjusting the story without losing its natural flow.

The result was a more focused explanation of why the program mattered and how residents could support it.

The Results (Proof You Can Feel)

The goal was to give Northern Rockies a better way to explain its vermicomposting program.

By the end of the project, the municipality had two completed educational videos, shaped through several rounds of collaboration and review.

Two videos ready for community outreach

We produced both a full-length and shorter version of the story.

That gave Northern Rockies more flexibility when sharing the program with residents, community groups and online audiences.

A clearer environmental message

The review process helped strengthen the focus of both videos.

Rather than spending too much time on technical details, the story centred on the benefits of keeping organic waste out of the landfill and the simple ways residents could participate.

Input from the people who knew the program

Municipal staff, community members and technical advisors all played a role in shaping the videos.

Their feedback helped keep the story grounded in real experience and accurate information.

Positive client feedback

Following the October review process, Hillary Sheppard shared her appreciation for the collaboration:

"So much appreciation for your efforts in collaboration as we worked on this!"

By November 2023, Northern Rockies had accepted both video copies as final and planned to introduce them to Council before sharing them on social media.

Audience results, such as video views and changes in program participation, were not provided.

However, the project achieved its confirmed production goal: two completed educational videos that explain the program, highlight local involvement and give the municipality useful content for public outreach.

A Few Lessons From This Project

Projects like this remind us that good communication doesn't have to be complicated.

Here are five lessons that stood out.

1. Real people make technical stories easier to understand

Wilf's experience gave the project a human connection.

Instead of opening with a long explanation of waste management, we could introduce the people doing the work and build the story from there.

2. Show the process whenever possible

Some things are simply easier to understand when you can see them.

Filming the facility, organic waste collection and practical demonstrations helped explain how the program worked.

3. Plan for changing conditions

Weather and location can affect any outdoor production.

Having a clear schedule and staying flexible helped us work through the conditions in Fort Nelson.

4. Good feedback makes a stronger video

The municipality's technical reviewers helped us improve the accuracy of the message.

Their input was important because the video needed to be both engaging and reliable.

5. Create content for different audiences

A longer video gives people room to explore a subject. A shorter version helps introduce the same message more quickly.

Having both gives organizations more ways to reach people.

Above all, this project showed the value of telling a clear story with the people who know it best.

About the Work (Tools and Specs)

This project combined interviews, live-action filming and educational storytelling.

Project details:

• Client: Northern Rockies Regional Municipality
• Location: Fort Nelson, British Columbia
• Year: 2023
• Production: Two filming days, June 8 and 9
• Style: Documentary-style interviews and educational footage
• Deliverables: Full-length and short-form educational videos
• Post-production: Video editing, colour correction and titles
• Video format: Web-ready H.264 specified in the project agreement
• Accessibility: Closed captioning included in the production scope, with subtitle files planned for use on supported platforms

The focus throughout production was on clear information, natural storytelling and visuals that helped people understand the program.

Ready to Build Something Like This?

Have a community program, public service or important project that deserves a better story? At EV Agency, we help municipalities, organizations and businesses turn complex ideas into clear, engaging videos. From the first conversation to the final edit, we'll help you plan the production, capture the right footage and share your message with confidence.

Whether you're raising awareness, explaining a service or telling the story behind your work, we'll bring a clear plan, a steady process and strong visuals to the project. Contact EV Agency to tell us what you're working on and request a video production quote.