Life-changing role

Movie buff credits volunteer position at Gimli film fest for burgeoning career

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David Knipe credits volunteering with kick-starting his professional career.

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Opinion

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This article was published 26/06/2023 (1015 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

David Knipe credits volunteering with kick-starting his professional career.

Last year, the former Winnipegger took a job at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema in Toronto. He’s responsible for the year-round film programming that happens at the theatre.

Taking the job was a logical next step in a career that started when Knipe volunteered at the Gimli International Film Festival in 2015.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
                                David Knipe, the new interim executive director of the Winnipeg Film Group, is photographed in his home in Winnipeg Monday, March 29, 2021.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

David Knipe, the new interim executive director of the Winnipeg Film Group, is photographed in his home in Winnipeg Monday, March 29, 2021.

“It was truly an eye-opening, informative, educational, exciting experience for me,” the 34-year-old says of his time in Gimli.

A lifelong cinephile, Knipe majored in film studies at the University of Manitoba.

After graduating in 2014, he spent 18 months working at a record store and bookstore. While he enjoyed being surrounded by art and film, he hoped to do something more substantial with his degree.

On a whim, he signed up to volunteer at the festival in Gimli.

Volunteer opportunities

The following is a list of volunteer opportunities for Winnipeg and surrounding areas. For more information about these listings, please contact the organization directly. Volunteer Manitoba does not place volunteers with organizations but can assist you in finding an opportunity. To learn more about its programs and services, go to www.volunteermanitoba.ca or call 204-477-5180.

The following is a list of volunteer opportunities for Winnipeg and surrounding areas. For more information about these listings, please contact the organization directly. Volunteer Manitoba does not place volunteers with organizations but can assist you in finding an opportunity. To learn more about its programs and services, go to www.volunteermanitoba.ca or call 204-477-5180.

Pulford Community Living Services, a not-for-profit organization committed to supporting adults with developmental disabilities and creating a more inclusive society, needs a fundraising committee member. The member will be asked to help raise funds for the Pairings with Pulford event to benefit Pulford’s endowment fund, and to help raise awareness about the organization. Email andy.russo@pulford.ca by Friday.

The Grosse Isle Heritage Site needs a natural history interpreter. The volunteer-driven organization aims to preserve the region’s rich history and provide an enjoyable destination for visitors. It offers services such as guided tours, a community market and historical education within a museum. A volunteer with a deep interest in natural and local history, good communication skills and openness to learning is needed. The volunteer will facilitate access to the on-site mini-museum, engage with visitors, ensure the safety of visitors and artifacts, collect feedback and collaborate with staff members and other volunteers. Must be 18 or older. The time commitment is 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on summer weekends until September. Email treasurer@grosseisle.org by July 25.

Heartwood Healing Centre, a non-profit organization that provides free therapy and support services to people who have experienced childhood sexual abuse, needs board members. Volunteers must understand the organization’s mission and vision, examine financial matters, attend and participate in meetings, and join committees. The organization encourages applications from Indigenous people, members of the LGBTTQ+ community, newcomers, racialized people and young people (ages 18 to 24). The board is specifically looking for people with experience in fundraising, diversity, equity and inclusion, finance, and legal matters. The time commitment is estimated at four to six hours per month, including preparation for meetings. Board members are expected to keep discussions confidential, abstain from conflicts of interest and foster a positive working relationship with other members and the executive director. Email recruitment@heartwoodcentre.ca by July 31.

The Link: Youth and Family Supports — a not-for-profit youth-serving organization providing help to more than 10,000 families in Manitoba — needs active, community-minded board members. Consideration will be given to applicants who reflect the diversity of program participants. Indigenous people, visible minorities and people with knowledge about the education system and mental wellness are needed. Contact Helena at 204-949-4785 or helena.tessier@thelinkmb.ca by Dec. 30.

Oyate Tipi Cumini Yape needs a volunteer to do furniture repair, working under the supervision of the refurbishment co-ordinator. Duties include repairing and refurbishing damaged wood furniture for distribution to community members on a referral list. Previous woodworking skills are an asset but not required. Training in safe tool use is an asset. Apply by email at volunteer@oyatetipi.com, call 204-589-2218 or apply online at http://wfp.to/Ntm by Dec. 31.

Prairie Strides, which makes a difference in the lives of children living with disabilities, needs volunteers for its fall program at West Wind Stables. No horse experience is needed, and training will be provided for all roles (such as leading and sidewalking, barn help, instructors, therapists, board members and fundraising committee members). The program runs for 1.5 hours a week for 10 weeks. Volunteers must be 16 years or older and available Monday or Wednesday nights. Apply online at http://wfp.to/NBB, email exedir@prairiestrides.com or call 204-925-5905 by Friday.

The Winnipeg Fringe Festival needs Fringe team members who can volunteer for at least four shifts (about four to six hours each) during the event, which runs July 19 to July 30. There are positions for people of every skill level. Positive and friendly people are needed to sell tickets, usher shows, serve drinks, help with Kids Fringe, answer questions and keep the festival organized. The majority of the festival is in the afternoon and evening, but there are opportunities at every time of day. Email volunteers@winnipegfringe.com or go online at http://wfp.to/0kR by July 12.

The Canadian Red Cross needs volunteers. When disaster strikes, you can help, and the Red Cross can show you how. Go to http://wfp.to/0pE, email volunteer@redcross.ca or call 1-844-818-2155.

Knipe wasn’t expecting much when he showed up to his orientation, but the festival’s executive director at the time dropped in to speak to the group.

Leona Johnson asked if anyone had a special interest in film and might be willing to take on more work than the average volunteer.

Knipe raised his hand and Johnson asked him to follow her.

For the entirety of the 2015 festival, Knipe shadowed Johnson, helping in a variety of areas and getting a close look at what it takes to run a film festival.

“I was lucky to be at that particular orientation session,” Knipe says. “I look back on it as a bit of being in the right place at the right time.”

In 2016, he took a paid position as the festival’s logistics co-ordinator. In 2017, he was promoted to fiction features programmer, and from 2018 to 2022, he served as senior film programmer.

After hearing about the job in Toronto through connections he’d made during his time in Gimli, Knipe applied and interviewed for the position.

He got a phone call offering him the job, and wouldn’t you know it, the phone call came during last year’s Gimli film festival.

“It felt really full circle for me,” Knipe says. “I was getting this new step in my career at the very place and very time where it all started.”

Knipe’s job requires a fair share of administrative work, he says, but the bulk of it involves watching films.

“That’s the thing I wake up and am thankful for every day,” he says. “I love to tell people what I do. I get paid to watch and show and talk about movies.”

This year’s Gimli International Film Festival is scheduled for July 26-30, and organizers are looking for volunteers to help in a number of areas. Details are available at gimlifilm.com/volunteer.

Whether you’re looking to break into the film industry or you just want to help out at a fun event, Knipe recommends getting involved.

“I really just can’t say enough about the quality of people that volunteer for that festival and the work they put in to make it such a world-class event every year,” he says.

“You just get everyone banding together in this summer camp camaraderie and it’s a really fun time. And, as a bonus, you get to see movies for free. You really can’t go wrong.”

If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron.epp@gmail.com

Aaron Epp

Aaron Epp
Reporter

Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. Read more about Aaron.

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