Niagara Falls + To Play a Daredevil’s Advocate

TWO FILMS ABOUT NIAGARA FALLS!
Gates 8:30PM | Film 9PM – program runs approx. 1hr

Niagara Falls
USA, Canada, 2023. PBS. 53 min. NR

PBS NATURE SERIES ON THE BIG SCREEN!

Niagara Falls

Embark on a journey to Niagara Falls and witness its stunning beauty and a wide variety of wildlife—mammals, birds, and reptiles— that call it home. Through the eyes of passionate scientists, uncover a complex world forged by stone and powered by water.

This FREE screening presentation is provided with courtesy of Nature, PBS and The WNET Group.

About the Episode
Witness the story of an extraordinary ecosystem – larger than the state of Texas, and more precious than oil. The heartbeat of this remarkable water world is Niagara Falls. Through the eyes of passionate scientists and naturalists, uncover a complex world forged by stone and powered by water. In this realm, tiny shrews hunt in freezing cold rivers, spectacular shorebird migration unfolds over thundering falls, snowy owls stalk their prey from ice flows, and prehistoric snapping turtles brave a perilous overland journey. All these creatures and many more are part of a remarkable narrative unfolding in one of the most unique ecosystems in North America – Niagara.

Noteworthy Facts:
Niagara Falls is the largest freshwater ecosystem on Earth, consisting of three falls and powered by four of the five Great Lakes.

Niagara Falls hosts millions of visitors a year.

In winter, Niagara has one of the largest and most diverse concentrations of gulls in the world. At least 18 different species of gulls can be found in the region.

Buzzworthy Moments:
Jenna McGuire, scientific illustrator, guides the way to the Niagara Escarpment. Carved away by glacial meltwater, it is the exposed edge of a fossilized sea that existed around 430 million years ago. At this time, this region was just a few degrees south of the equator and the reef that built it was very similar to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia today.

A water shrew is a tiny insectivore no bigger than a thumb, yet they have the highest metabolism of any diving mammal. Because of poor eyesight, they must rely on a complex hunting strategy. A shrew scans the surface to detect the slightest break or movement in the water. Then it forages along the bottom, trying to shake loose its prey. When its long whiskers detect movement, it finally chases an unwitting crayfish.

In winter, the Great Lakes are among the most dangerous waters in the world, with some waves reaching 25 feet or more. Mariners have nicknamed this zone of death and destruction “Graveyard of the Great Lakes”. Yet despite this danger, these waters still attract adventurous surfers.

Don’t forget to bring a lawn chair or blanket!

To Play a Daredevil’s Advocate
Canada, 2022. Directed by Jordyn Stewart. 6 min. NR

“To Play a Daredevil’s Advocate” is a captivating 6-minute video performance where the artist flips through a photo album, engaging the viewer through documentary-style narration. The collection of 24 photographs unveils the rich history of daredevil culture and tourism surrounding Niagara Falls since the 1820s, with a particular emphasis on Annie Edson Taylor, the first person to successfully survive going over the Falls in a barrel.

About the Filmmaker
Jordyn Stewart (she/her) is a settler artist, educator and arts administrator based in Niagara. She received her MFA from the University of Waterloo and her BA from the University of Toronto, joint program with Sheridan College in Art & Art History.  Her work has been programmed in spaces such as Art Museum, Hamilton Artists Inc., Trinity Square Video, Idea Exchange, and Gallery Stratford. In 2022, her work screened at the Small File Media Festival in Burnaby, BC and OORtreders Festival in Pelt, BE. Jordyn is currently the Co-Chair at Hamilton Artists Inc. and is teaching in the Department of Visual Studies at The University of Toronto Mississauga.

This screening is supported by 

Thank you to our partners at the Niagara Falls History Museum for their support.

Located in the heart of the Falls, the Niagara Falls History Museum houses a vast collection of Niagara Falls history.