The Grizzlies: Miranda de Pencier and Anna Lambe on the importance of shining a light on traumas in Nunavut

About 10 years ago, film producer Miranda de Pencier heard a story about a high school in Nunavut that floored her. The school started a lacrosse program to help students find hope during a time when teen suicide was on the rise in Inuit communities. Right away, she knew what her next film would be.

Nearly a decade later, and after hundreds of auditions and countless conversations about Canada's struggle through reconciliation, that film was finally made.

The Grizzlies tells the story of teacher Russ Sheppard and the students at the Kugluktuk high school who helped the community find hope.

Ahead of the release of the film, de Pencier and one of the stars of the film, Anna Lambe, sat down with host Tom Power in the q studio to talk about about their experience making the film and what it means to the Inuit community.  

The Grizzlies opens in select theatres on Friday, April 19 and it'll have a wider release on Friday, May 3.

— Produced by Ben Jamieson