Films

Prairie Visions

Prairie Visions is a feature documentary in production by Bailey and Soda Films in collaboration with the Lethbridge Symphony Association. The film celebrates the Symphony’s 65-year history and explores how classical music has shaped the cultural identity of Southern Alberta. Blending oral history, rare archival materials, and powerful new performances—including the revival of Dean Blair’s Lethbridge Concerto and a newly commissioned work by Blackfoot composer Sonny-Ray Day Rider—Prairie Visions is a visually compelling, music-driven story told through a symphony of voice and sound. Directed by award-winning historian and filmmaker Dr. Jenna Bailey, the film will premiere in 2027 as an immersive live event, with the Symphony performing the score live during the screening. Community support is essential to bring this project to life; to learn more or contribute, donate here or contact executive@lethbridgesymphony.org

Brainstorm

Brainstorm tells the story of Alberta neuroscientists who revolutionized our understanding of the brain, developed prevention strategies for brain disorders, and established programs to improve brain health.

From the small town of Lethbridge, Alberta Drs. Ian Whishaw and Bryan Kolb published the first textbook ever written about the function of the human brain in 1980.  This ground-breaking publication helped establish the foundations of neuroscience education on a global scale.  While at the University of Lethbridge, Ian and Bryan recruited and mentored a group of scientists who collectively built a world class neuroscience research centre and founded the first neuroscience department in Canada. Their research resulted in the discovery of prevention and therapy strategies that help solve problems related to dementia, recovery from stroke, and developmental brain disorders, and led to the creation of community programs to improve brain health and brain development in children.

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Black Lives in Alberta: Over a Century of Racial Injustice Continues

Black Lives in Alberta: Over a Century of Racial Injustice Continues tells the story of five generations of Black Albertans and their experiences of discrimination living on the Canadian Prairies. Descendants of a large wave of African American immigrants who moved to Alberta and Saskatchewan in the early 20th Century to escape racism and persecution in the United States candidly share their family histories and discuss how their racial identities have shaped their experiences of living in Alberta.

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We are the Roots

“An intriguing and moving new documentary.”
– Paula Simons, Edmonton Journal

We are the Roots: Black Settlers and their Experiences of Discrimination on the Canadian Prairies tells the story of a wave of African American immigrants who moved to Alberta and Saskatchewan between 1905-1912 to escape racism and persecution in the United States.  Taking advantage of Canada’s offer of 160 acres of land for a $10 fee, 1000-1500 individuals moved to the Prairies and helped develop several settlements throughout the provinces.

Through the stories of 19 descendants of the original settlers, We are the Roots focuses on the experiences of discrimination these individuals encountered while living in the rural communities and in Edmonton.

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On the Shoulders of Giants

On the Shoulders of Giants is a true Alberta story about three doctors from the prairies who worked tirelessly and selflessly to improve the conditions of health care and education in the province of Alberta by founding what is now the world renowned Division of Gastroenterology at the University of Alberta.

As told by the Division’s visionary founders, Dr. Richard Sherbaniuk, Dr. Ronald Wensel and Dr. Wilfred Weinstein, this meaningful story sheds light on the changing face of health care in Alberta.

Visit Bailey and Soda Films to view film.