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TELUS STORYHIVE celebrates 10th anniversary of local storytelling

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Photo via TELUS STORYHIVE

A decade of locally reflective storytelling. TELUS STORYHIVE is celebrating its 10-year anniversary of supporting local content creators, giving communities in British Columbia and Alberta an opportunity to share their stories on the Canadian Broadcasting System. Focusing on giving a voice to underrepresented communities is one of STORYHIVE’s main goals and they aim to inspire aspiring content creators in smaller regions that they don’t need to live in the big cities to create meaningful content.

STORYHIVE is where it is today because of the immense talent, drive and creativity of content creators in Western Canada. STORYHIVE offers innovative programs that provide production funding, training, mentorship and distribution on TELUS Optik TV and online platforms.

Roll the highlight reel! STORYHIVE’s impact during the past 10 years includes distributing more than $52 million in production funding, supporting over 1,100 screen-based projects to be produced, and providing 10,000-plus hours of robust training and one-on-one mentorship. The programs have supported over 270 communities across B.C. and Alberta.

They are proud of the ongoing mission to support underrepresented communities, helping empower the next generation of storytellers and content creators.

Kels Delamarter. Photo by Juhee Anderson

“We are incredibly proud of the work STORYHIVE has supported over the past 10 years in communities in Southern Alberta,” says Shaun Cathcart, STORYHIVE Southern Alberta territory manager. “Celebrating and amplifying Canadian-created content that is locally reflective and relevant is at the core of TELUS STORYHIVE’s mission. It’s been very rewarding to be able to amplify the voices of the community and champion the development of inspiring content created by individuals such as Kels Delamarter’s Queer in Alberta.”

Storytellers like Lethbridge’s Kels Delamarter, a STORYHIVE Voices creator, writer and host of Queer in Alberta, a 12-episode interview-based program set to be released later in 2023 on TELUS Optik TV.

Delamarter is a queer Filipina-Canadian, raised in Alberta who is passionate about diversity, social advocacy, and amplifying BIPOC Queer experiences and histories on the Canadian prairies.

“I wanted to amplify 2SLGBTQIA+ voices in Alberta, specifically BIPOC and marginalized voices, to tell our stories in our own words and on our own terms,” explains Delamarter.

“Queer in Alberta is based in Lethbridge but has become a platform for queer voices from all over the province,” she continues. “By interviewing individuals from places even smaller than Lethbridge, I’ve had the unique privilege to spotlight stories that go against the dominant narratives that have historically defined queer experiences in isolated or smaller communities.”

Each STORYHIVE project recipient is connected with a program manager, who is widely known to leave an indelible impression on creators, guiding and supporting them throughout their projects.

“Georgina Chaplin from TELUS, my program manager, was one of the highlights of my experience,” reveals Delamarter. “She encouraged and coached me, and from the beginning, her excitement in how far my project could go has had a profound and lasting impact on my career and life.”

Without STORYHIVE’s support, many creators’ dreams may not have been realized and gone unfulfilled.

“I started this project independently on TikTok, and it didn’t look anything like it does today,” describes Delamarter. “As a queer woman, this project means so much to me, and I’m beyond grateful to STORYHIVE for the opportunity to share the stories of my community.”

Like Delamarter and thousands of content creators before her, she dreamed it and created it.

Watch the anniversary video Dare to Dream, Dare to Create at STORYHIVE.com/anniversary, where you’ll learn more about STORYHIVE’s journey and its funding programs, and perhaps, you’ll be inspired to share your own story, too.

Delamarter advises aspiring creators: “Just do it! Apply. I did, and now my life couldn’t be more different. Trust your voice and believe in the story you want to tell.”

Celebrate this momentous anniversary by sharing the news with your network and perhaps rewatch or share some of your favourite STORYHIVE content.

If you’re interested in discovering upcoming 2023 events, such as open houses and content creator chats, from now until year’s end, follow STORYHIVE to learn more and connect with people in the content creator community.