By Katherine Brodsky
Environmental Impact Assessments in British Columbia
Sustainable sets are more than a trend, and British Columbia is leading the way. Alpha Select Production Services CEO Beverley Dondale is spearheading a $242 million studio project in partnership with the Malahat Nation. The initiative aims to create a carbon-neutral, zero-waste production facility on Vancouver Island. Using a phased construction approach, the studio will integrate renewable energy, waste management and sustainable practices, with 51% ownership by the Malahat Nation.
The planned facility includes a 10-acre backlot, two production offices, a workshop, warehouse and a double soundstage. Given the lack of waste management options on the island, Dondale has partnered with a construction company to help deconstruct the set in a way that salvages the materials and returns the reclaimed resources to local nonprofits. She is also working with groups to donate unused food and materials to the community.
“We have composting and recycling capabilities,” Dondale explains, emphasizing the need to make sustainability easy for production teams. She has worked with companies that offer tax receipts for donations, making it financially viable for productions to participate.
