Tell Us Your Story. What motivated you to start your business? Why are you passionate about what you do?

Stories are a cornerstone of the human experience, and the way we tell them is crucial. We believe that stories are as vital to human wellbeing as clean air and water, with the power to inspire, connect, comfort, and embolden us. Our vision is to change the climate of entertainment. Our mission is to ensure that storytelling continues in a manner that respects our planet. We aim to help the entertainment industry consistently integrate sustainable environmental and social practices into their productions, operations, and broader communities. Zena Harris, founder and President of Green Spark Group, has a deep-rooted commitment to sustainability. With a master's degree from Harvard University in Sustainability and Environmental Management, extensive research on sustainability in the motion picture industry, and expertise in global sustainability frameworks and industry best practices, she established Green Spark Group in 2014. At Green Spark Group, sustainability is fundamentally about health and wellbeing. We approach everything we do with the goal of creating systems that support a sustainable culture. Our ultimate goal of "changing the climate of entertainment" involves implementing systems within organizations that reduce both environmental and social stress. This approach, developed over time, consistently proves transformative. We believe in our approach to work and strive to make it enjoyable! Industry transformation requires a shift in production and corporate culture. As people become more aware of the impact of their actions, they naturally take on the responsibility of adopting more sustainable behaviors. Our corporate sustainability strategies, on-production consulting packages, custom training programs, and online courses are designed to ease this transition. We energize organizations, crews, and communities with quality education that not only teaches what to think but how to think with a sustainable, circular economy mindset.

Describe and demonstrate, including metrics, your community support. How do you support and uplift your community, and how do they show that support in return? Minimum 25 words, maximum 2500 characters.

We actively engage our community through various initiatives, from sponsoring local charitable efforts, like Reel Green’s Reel Earth Day Challenge and Reel Thanksgiving Challenge, to helping produce the educational and collaborative conference, the Sustainable Production Forum (SPF). SPF is an annual event that brings together industry professionals and sustainability thought leaders to drive sustainability in the motion picture industry. In 2023 Green Spark Group realized one of its strategic goals to move the SPFnto its own incorporated non-profit organization, the Sustainable Entertainment Society (SES). Green Spark Group (GSG) serves as its foundational partner. SPF23 welcomed over 900 participants both locally and globally through online and in-person events. Our growing partnerships and community support have led to a robust hybrid event, featuring two in-person receptions, one virtual reception, 33 sessions and workshops, 80 experts, and a 48% increase in unique online views. We are humbled by testimonials from SPF23 attendees, such as: "The whole experience was very elevating and left me with a feeling of hope and possibility," and "I’m so grateful to SPF for their unwavering dedication to uniting our sector and elevating our industry’s aspirations to make a positive impact." Beyond charity and SPF, every GSG-hired production collaborates with local companies to mitigate its environmental footprint, exemplified by our partnerships with Keep it Green Recycling,Urban Jacks and others. GSG also established The Creative Industries Pact for Sustainable Action, a free online community dedicated to sharing sustainability resources and fostering community and accountability within the creative industries. The Pact community now boasts 180 signatories across over 20 countries. Signatories self-report on their sustainability initiatives and progress every two years as a knowledge-sharing and accountability tool. GSG's 2023 self-reported metrics include: 18.9 MTCO2 emitted 3 research projects 1570+ people trained 13 strategies launched 60+ film/TV productions improved Financially, GSG has grown by over 30% in the past year, a testament to the strong community support we receive! In May 2024, Green Spark Group earned its Women Owned Business certification, and in July 2024, Green Spark Group earned B-Corp certification.

Why do you deserve to win the Business Impact award?

We contribute directly to the economic, social, psychological, community, and physical health and wellbeing of our province and country by fostering economic and environmental sustainability in the entertainment industry. Our passion and commitment drive us to offer extensive resources and opportunities for community connection, including initiatives like The Pact and The Sustainable Production Forum. Over the past ten years, we have developed a business model and culture that inherently supports and enriches our economy and community. Our team is deeply dedicated to enhancing the health and wellbeing of our local community. We support the Arts and Entertainment industry in BC by promoting sustainable practices and increasing sustainability and circular economy literacy throughout the film and television sectors. This not only benefits those directly involved in the industry but also the communities where filming takes place. These efforts contribute to the long-term viability and prosperity of BC's Arts and Entertainment sector. Additionally, our annual Sustainable Production Forum brings together industry thought leaders and business owners to foster growth and collaboration, further solidifying our impact. By championing the creation of a circular economy within the creative industries, we support the long-term wellbeing, growth, and innovation of the arts and entertainment sectors. Our activities also position BC as a global leader in sustainable film and TV production. While we are based in BC and prioritize local community building, our work now spans the globe. We leverage our BC experience and knowledge to help other filming communities become more sustainable, bringing diverse sustainability practices from around the world back home to further improve our industry.

Tell Us About Your Culture. How are you creating a sustainable and healthy workplace where everyone feels welcome? Provide examples of leadership you show in interactions with clients, vendors, contractors, staff and others.

We strive to cultivate a culture of inclusivity, respect, kindness, and accountability. As experts in social sustainability, we are uniquely positioned to achieve this. We believe kindness is essential to sustainability, and that strong, resilient communities are founded on respect and acceptance. Our team wholeheartedly embraces inclusion, embodying our principles in every aspect of our work. Our workforce is 80% women, and our human resource policies include comprehensive equality and inclusion provisions that all team members are required to uphold. We offer extended health care benefits and encourage a healthy work/life balance. Each team meeting includes time for members to share significant life events, fostering a culture of support, encouragement, and celebration. At the upcoming SPF24, we are honored to have the traditional welcome delivered by T’uy’t’tanat - Cease Wyss, Indigenous Matriarch of the Skwxwu7mesh, Sto:lo, and Hawaiian people. In previous years, we have been privileged to feature a diverse array of hosts and speakers, including Indigenous actor and producer Simon Baker; Johnna Sparrow (Musqueam Nation | xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Indigenous Relations Advisor); Faith Sparrow-Crawford (Musqueam Nation | xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Co-founder of Salish Locations Inc. & Host Consulting Inc.); Dennis Thomas, Whonoak (Tsleil-Waututh Nation | səlilwətaɬ, Member and elected Councillor); and Wilson Williams, Sxwíxwtn (Squamish Nation | Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw, Spokesperson & General Councillor). We have also been pleased to welcome Dr. David Suzuki, Prem Gill (CEO, Creative BC), and Francesca Accinelli (Interim Executive Director & CEO, Telefilm Canada) to past forums. When collaborating with clients, a significant part of our role is to help them uplift their teams and cultivate a healthy workplace culture and environment. This involves providing recommendations to support employee wellbeing, environmental stewardship, and community health. For instance, a recent production in Atlanta, Georgia, donated nearly 100% of its set props, wardrobe, and production design elements (such as school desks, flooring, lamps, and bookcases) to a local non-profit children's center instead of selling them in a warehouse sale. This initiative was strongly encouraged by our Sustainability Consultant.

Why do you think you should win the Premier’s People’s Choice Award?

Our mission is centered around people. Every aspect of our business, from concept to implementation, focuses on the sustainable wellbeing of our communities and our planet. We believe in the transformative power of the arts to make life meaningful and enrich culture. Winning this award would enable us to further support the arts and expand our sustainability knowledge to a broader audience, fostering healthier organizations and a thriving creative culture. We recognize that many incredible businesses in BC deserve recognition, and we hope that being acknowledged in this way would help us build our platform to better support, build, and connect our community. One Sustainable Production Forum attendee wrote to us after the event, “Inspired, encouraged, and enlightened! With a unified voice and strategy, we may be able to affect change before change affects us.” These stories fuel our business's success. We are deeply grateful to our community for valuing the arts and the environment as much as we do, and we will continue to give back as much as possible.