Calgary-area resident Kim Logan received a $20,000 grant from TELUS to bring her captivating documentary idea to life

Canmore resident, Kim Logan was recently selected as the recipient of TELUS STORYHIVE’s Anniversary Documentary Edition. The program is now in its 10^th year of supporting content creators across Alberta and B.C. and has provided more than $52 million in production funding to local content creators so that underrepresented voices be heard. Logan is one of 80 recipients to receive $20,000 in production funding, training, one-on-one mentorship and distribution on TELUS Optik TV. She plans on telling the story of Matt Hadley, a Canmore resident who became a local inspiration in the face of adversity.

Tell us about Trailblazing: The Matt Hadley Story and why you chose Matt Hadley to be the subject of your documentary.

Trailblazing: The Matt Hadley story is a captivating story about overcoming hardship that sheds light on the Canmore resident’s extraordinary journey. Matt, an ex-professional mountain biker, was living his best mountain life and thriving in his career as a trail builder when in 2019, his life changed forever. He encountered a life-altering tragedy, which resulted in a leg amputation above the knee. In the face of mobility challenges, Matt discovered a glaring lack of prosthetic adaptations available to athletes with amputations. Undeterred, he took matters into his own hands and designed his own prosthetic solutions. Enduring ten surgeries and pushing his limits, Matt continues to strive towards his professional and personal goals, exemplifying resilience, and a true trailblazer spirit. I was completely in awe of his strength and resilience. I felt inspired to tell Matt’s story because I know what it’s like to be injured and not be able to do what you love. I deeply respect and admire Matt’s courage, perseverance, and ability to adapt. It’s a moving story and has huge potential to inspire all adventure seekers to live their best mountain life.

How did it feel to be selected as a recipient of TELUS STORYHIVE’s Documentary Edition?

It felt surreal to be selected as a recipient of the TELUS STORYHIVE Documentary Edition funding. I actually logged into the platform before bed one night and saw the status of the project had turned green and read “funded.” I yelled my partner’s name and leapt out of bed to show him and asked, “Do you think this means I got it?” He jumped up and responded with an enthusiastic “YES! I think that means you got it!!” The following morning, I received the official email confirmation and was over the moon. Matt was super excited to hear the news as well and I’m really looking forward to working together to tell this powerful story. I feel deeply grateful to be one of the 80 recipients selected across Alberta and BC. After almost four months of waiting and wondering, I’m relieved to have an answer and I’m elated that it was the one I wished for. As a new filmmaker, the last few months have been an emotional rollercoaster.

What impact do you hope your documentary has on your community?

This film will recognize the enormous impact one individual—a local legend—has had on our vibrant mountain culture. The significant contributions Matt has made are two-fold: As a professional trails technologist, Matt has helped plan, build, and redesign a number of local trails, including the iconic Ha Ling Peak Trail and trails at the Canmore Nordic Centre, one of the top mountain biking centres in North America. He has helped make trails safer, more purposeful, and enjoyable for everyone. His impact has resulted in significantly fewer rescues on Mount Yamnuska. It is estimated that he covered 2000km+ on foot for the High Rockies Trail project alone - a testament to his dedication and hard work.