What's Going on in the Forest Capital of Canada?

The Canadian Institute of Forestry (CIF) awarded the Mackenzie Region the title of Forest Capital of Canada (FCC) 2024. The moniker celebrates “regions for their connectivity to the forest.” The Mackenzie Region rose to the challenge, and as a result, CIF once again awarded the region the FCC title for 2025.

Boris Creators Move To Zama

Kathleen and Dražen Rukavina, owners of Long Sleeve Productions, are no strangers to Northern Alberta.

For years, they travelled from Edmonton to the Mackenzie Region on and off to make videos for local clients. However, after two weeks of filming last February, they chose to relocate and buy a home in Zama.

“We were filming Steven, who is featured on the first stop of Boris’ Winter Adventure,” said Kathleen. “And, Steven was telling this story about a pioneer family that travelled vast distances to start a new life in Northern Alberta. And, Dražen says to me, ‘Y’know, that could be us.’ It hasn’t been five months since that moment, and we’re getting ready to make our journey over there.”

In 2019, the Rukavinas moved from Edmonton, AB to Hamilton, ON.

“This will be new territory for us. We’ve seen quite a bit of it during the times we’ve spent there, but during the filming of Boris’ Winter Adventure, we fell in love with it all over again,” said Kathleen. “We really missed the winter. We got to experience it to its fullest on that trip. It really captured us—the snow under your feet, that fresh cool air.”

In the video, the non-fiction pioneer story is read by Steven Simpson, the manager of the Fort Vermilion Heritage Centre. It’s from the book, The Emperor of the Peace River. The Rukavinas did a masterful job bringing the tale to life with hyper realistic AI animation that uses historical photos.

“[The story] is about hardships, good neighbours and building a log cabin at -40 degrees Celsius,” says Steven in Boris’ Winter Adventure.

“With this video, we really want people to picture what it was like for the pioneers and what they were contending with. They overcame so much with the help of their neighbours,” said Kathleen. “I think people who have spent any time in the region know that, boy, your neighbours come in handy.”

Boris’ Winter Adventure

Boris’ adventures are commissioned by the Forest Capital of Canada 2024-2025 Board. The first one was a hit, and this one is bigger and better.

With 55 videos (23 more than last time) accessible from a map with 10 main stops, Boris’ Winter Adventure blends local real-life footage with top-notch animation. And, it showcases community in the Mackenzie Region.

“Community is everywhere you turn up there, and we wanted to capture that in Boris’ Winter Adventure,” said Kathleen. “There’s John Thurston and Gale Hayday in the forest education space. You have high adrenaline lovers at Blue Ridge Mountain Ski Hill and with the La Crete Polar Cats Snowmobile Club. It’s a mix of different people doing different things in the region.”

At the winter forestry stop, Tolko Woodland Supervisor Jesse Petroskey brings you along to a safety orientation. Then, he gives you a close up and personal timber operations tour showing lots of live action.

“They’re very meticulous about their schedule and coordination because they have limited time to get out there on the ice roads. They also need to account for animal migration. I was really impressed,” said Kathleen. “Plus, we got amazing footage of their incredible machines, which make those huge trees look like toothpicks.”

Another stop features local Forest Officer Bentley Fawcett who guides you through winter forest fire operations. See a real winter wildfire, take a ride up Watt Mountain and more.

In addition to celebrating the Mackenzie Region, the Boris adventures are being utilized in schools. Entertaining and engaging, each stop contains learning opportunities. There are sub menus of additional videos, quizzes and what are called tree stumpers.”

High Level’s annual winter event, Frostival, is also a stop on this adventure.

“We wanted to make it extra special since it was their 10th annual. We had our young host, Ellie, guide us through the day—snow shoeing, curling, ice sliding, dog sledding and the snow maze. The community really came out,” said Kathleen.

The Rukavinas are excited to share Boris’ Winter Adventure. And, they will soon begin filming Boris’ next adventure once they settle in.

“We’re leaving from the Greater Toronto Area and heading to our new home in Zama City in about six days,” said Kathleen. “When making the decision to move there, we realized we already feel like part of the community.”

Northern Alberta is where the Rukavinas want to be—in the land of possibilities.

“We did some work for REDI [Regional Economic Development Initiative], and we came up with the slogan 80,000 square kilometres of opportunity. We’re looking forward to it,” said Kathleen. “And, you can’t tell me there’s nothing to do in the winter. We have our snowmobile suits, and we’re ready.”