Film Kiosk Celebration – Event
Sustainability is an ongoing global focus in the face of climate change and the expansion of economic growth. This is no different for the creative industries. When analyzing the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reports of many of the large-scale production networks, we noted the commitment to reduce environmental impacts. Specifically, many large production companies, like Netflix, Disney, HBO have ESG reports detailing a commitment to reduce their carbon footprint by half by 2030. This vision requires collaboration on a global scale between private and public organizations. Scope 1, which are direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that come from sources that are owned or controlled by an organization, occur mostly during the production phase. Therefore, we saw an opportunity to create a clean energy space for an area that productions concentrate in Maple Ridge, both for sustainability goals that the city employs, but also to ensure that we remain competitive within the everchanging landscape of the creative economy.
The Economic Development department completed its sustainability initiative to bring electric power to the Maple Ridge ‘Railway Lot’ on December 5th, 2024. Instead of running multiple diesel generators per day, film productions can now utilize net-zero power sourced via a Kiosk through a BC Hydro power pole in the lot. This saves an estimated 234 metric tons of CO2 per year and 86,800 litres of diesel. We were the first municipality outside of Vancouver and Toronto to create a purpose-built kiosk of this nature.
To celebrate Maple Ridge’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, innovation, and the creative sector, the City hosted the Film Kiosk Event; a cross-departmental initiative led by the Department of Economic Development and supported by key partners in the film and energy industries. This event was designed not only to unveil the newly installed sustainable film kiosk but also to signal to the industry that Maple Ridge is making strategic investments to support the continued, sustainable growth of film within the region.
The event served multiple objectives: to foster collaboration across industry stakeholders, showcase the City’s leadership in environmentally responsible filmmaking, and demonstrate Maple Ridge’s ability to host unconventional, high-impact events that bring the creative community together in meaningful ways. It was intentionally designed to include and celebrate all facets of the creative industry, from production and energy innovation to storytelling and community engagement.
The evening kicked off with a vibrant outdoor expo powered entirely by the new film kiosk. The space was transformed into a destination, featuring over 4,000 square feet of tenting, helium balloons (recaptured for reuse), electric heating, an 18-foot screen, picnic tables, and interactive experiences like film trivia and local catering offerings. Industry leaders and vendors showcased cutting-edge green technologies, including advanced battery systems, electric camera cranes, and circular economy businesses that minimize environmental impact while elevating production quality.
Notable speakers included Mayor Dan Ruimy, representatives from the Creative BC Film Commission, BC Hydro, and Valid Manufacturing, the manufacturers of the kiosk. The night concluded with a networking session and an immersive production set experience, created by a local production company. This set paid homage to the global artist Drake, who filmed a music video in the same location just a year earlier, creating a tangible link between Maple Ridge’s film legacy and its future as a sustainable production destination.
The Film Kiosk Event celebrated innovation, sustainability, and creativity, while positioning Maple Ridge as a bold, capable, and collaborative partner in shaping the next generation of film production in British Columbia.
