1910: The Uncovering

Chad Townsend, Director, Co-Producer is an experienced visual storyteller, researcher and project manager. He is passionate about corrective/untold human stories throughout history and respectfully shares these often-overlooked narratives. Chad transitioned into documentary filmmaking mid-career, studying at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and producing a short film that premiered at the Banff Mountain Film Festival. Through connections developed originally through his care of an old Interior building, he gained mutual respect of the Japanese Canadian community. He then found further film success directing the Internment impact awareness film Nomoto - a BC Tragedy. The film was selected for numerous festivals and Community events, and is now streaming on Knowledge Network. In addition to this exciting 1910 avalanche project, Chad has begun developing a film series on the complex origins of BC's protected area and park systems.

Owen Akira Kato, Writer is the son of a Japanese-Canadian gas station owner and Irish/Scottish lab technician, raised in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. The first in his family lineage to attend university, he pursued creative writing and philosophy at the University of British Columbia, where he specialized in power & oppression and ethics. During his final semester, he accepted the role of screenwriter for Chad Townsend's documentary film Nomoto - a BC Tragedy.

Tomoaki “Tomo” Fujimura is a Japanese-born Canadian based in Revelstoke, British Columbia. He serves as Film Concept Developer, Researcher, Interviewee, Cultural Advisor, and Translator for the film. During the winter, Tomo works as an ACMG-certified ski guide and apprentice helicopter ski guide for Selkirk Tangiers Heli Skiing. He is the only Japanese-origin leader of the Canadian Avalanche Association’s Avalanche Operations Level 1 course. He also contributes his avalanche search-and-rescue expertise to the International Commission for Alpine Rescue (ICAR) Avalanche Commission and the Switzerland-based MountainSafety.info. In the summer, he works for Parks Canada as a Visitor Services Attendant in the Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks Field Unit, where he continues to deepen his knowledge of Canadian history. Combining his passion for history and snow science, he served as an assistant researcher for Land of Thundering Snow, a virtual avalanche museum documenting over 200 years of avalanche fatalities in Canada.

A defining moment in Tomo’s life came in January 2006 when he was caught in a size 3 destructive avalanche on an open slope in Lizard Bowl at Fernie Alpine Resort. As a professional ski patroller, he had been providing first aid to a 9-year-old boy with a twisted ankle when the avalanche struck. Tomo and the boy’s family were swept away by the enormous force, but all managed to swim and escape. This near-death experience profoundly shaped him and fueled his lifelong commitment to avalanche safety, education, and risk management. Since 2009, Tomo has dedicated countless volunteer hours to researching the tragic Rogers Pass avalanche that occurred on March 4, 1910, in Glacier National Park — the deadliest avalanche in Canadian history. Through meticulous investigation, he has connected with descendants of five Japanese victim families (Abe, Imamura, Kumagai, Yamaji, and, most recently in 2024, Yukio Tsujimura). In 2010, at the invitation of the Revelstoke community, he played a key role in organizing the 100th anniversary commemoration of the disaster. Tomo is also deeply involved in the Revelstoke community, including supporting tsunami relief efforts for Japan and serving as a Nikkei community builder. His contributions to the film include serving as cultural advisor, providing historic Japanese family photographs, translating archival Japanese newspapers, and guiding descendant Yukio Tsujimura during his emotional visit to Rogers Pass in July 2024. Tomoaki Fujimura’s life reflects a rare and powerful blend of professional expertise in winter mountain safety and risk management, cultural bridging between Japan, Canada, and Europe, and unwavering community engagement—making him a deeply respected figure in both the global avalanche safety community and the cultural landscape of Revelstoke.

Sherry Yano, Narrator, Guide, Story Advisor is a senior leader with over 20 years of experience in the charitable and non-profit sectors, building diverse strategic networks of rights-holders and stakeholders from coast to coast, to advance community-led solutions to address complex issues. She has also written articles in print media, produced short docs for CBC radio, created a children’s picture book, and award winning one-act plays. Based in Vancouver, she was an interviewee in the film Nomoto - a BC Tragedy.

Tavi Parusel, Editor is a passionate traveler with a deep appreciation for diverse cultures, aspires to craft captivating and inspiring stories. His decade-long collaboration with the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival reflects his love for outdoor adventure. As a promo producer for Knowledge Network, he edited the Best Adventure Film at the 2023 Banff Mountain Film Festival. Tavi's work has taken him on a global journey, from documenting the Kumbh Mela pilgrimage in India to trekking through Nepal's sacred Tsum Valley and exploring the depths of Canada's Pacific coast in search of endangered corals. His award-winning film, The Pilgrimage, chronicled his personal 900 km journey along northern Spain's Camino de Santiago. A music enthusiast, Tavi has directed numerous music videos with millions of views and edited Tomorrow's Harvest, a CBC documentary about young urban farmers in British Columbia. Tavi hopes that his creative endeavours, present and future, reveal the unique beauty and diversity of our planet. His portfolio can be found on his website.

Cliff Hokanson, Director of Photography is a Vancouver-based Director of Photography and camera operator with over 25 years of experience in feature films, documentary, television, and music videos. His versatility is evident in his ability to film various cinematic looks, adapting to different styles and requirements of each project. In addition to his work as a Steadicam Operator, he is known for his fast execution of beautiful lighting, creative camera movement, and his fun, positive set attitude. Cliff’s extensive experience, technical skills, and positive reputation have made him a sought-after professional in the film industry, particularly in Vancouver’s thriving production scene.

Dale Nichols, Co-Producer, Composer, Sound Designer is a versatile crew member with a creative composing and sound design portfolio spanning film, virtual reality, video games, musicals, and dance productions. His work has been recognized with awards, notably the Best Documentary Score at the Montreal International Film Festival for his contribution to the documentary When Hope Breaks Through (2023). His work has been featured in short films, commercials, and the two-part Discovery Channel docuseries Covid-19: Dubai (2021). His experience extends to international collaborations, including award-winning work with both France-based Compagnie Voix on mixed-reality dance performances and UAE-based Kiyany Media on cinematic narrative shorts. As a solo artist, he has released several piano recordings, amassing over a quarter-million streams globally, with his arrangements having been performed live at Expo 2020 in Dubai. In addition to his musical pursuits, Dale provides narration for various voiceover projects across radio, audiobooks, commercials, film, and education. For this project, Dale contributes his multifaceted expertise as a co-producer, aiming to drive the film's success both within British Columbia and internationally. Samples of his work can be found at dalenicholsmusic.com

Tony Wytinck, Colourist is the principal colourist at White Ink Digital. Tony is an experienced colour timing technician who has been supportive of the project and that we hope to engage if successful in attaining post-production funding assistance. Some of his previous film contributions can be found on his IMDB page.

Tony Bulnes, Animator is a versatile creative professional based in Vancouver, BC, with over a decade of experience in graphic design, 3D animation, motion graphics, and visual effects. A former resident of Japan and recent graduate of Vancouver Film School's Digital Design program, Tony has honed his skills working with clients ranging from small businesses to large corporations. Tony’s multifaceted background and storytelling focus position him as a well-rounded creative professional who combines technical proficiency with a strong narrative sense, making him adept at visual communication in today's diverse media landscape. Examples of his work can be found on his website.