Courtesy Medicine Hat Skateboard Association

By Lisa Parent

Medicine Hat skateboarders humanitarian efforts in Mexico to hit the big screen

Apr 29, 2024 | 12:00 PM

A new film chronicling the journey of the Medicine Hat Skateboard Association’s humanitarian trip to Mexico is coming to the Monarch Theatre.

In collaboration with Youth With a Mission, the young men of the MHSA joined forces to build a home for a deserving family in a two-day effort.

Meanwhile, the MHSA girls provided support at a shelter dedicated to protecting vulnerable girls from sex trafficking and abuse.

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“It was a very meaningful experience for everybody on the trip. Everybody, I feel like, came back with a different point of view on life and a little bit changed,” said Michaela Burgess, a group leader on the trip.

A videographer and editor from Calgary, Zach Creighton, followed the skaters through their journey.

Creighton then helped the association create a 25 minute documentary called ‘Rolling For Hope’, supported by Stringam Law, that will premiere at the Monarch Theatre in Medicine Hat.

“I do cry at the end in the movie, so I’m a little bit interested to see what that’s gonna be like watching me cry on a big screen,” Burgess laughed.

Keidus Kruk, a young skater who had never been out of Alberta before this trip, said viewers should also expect to get emotional.

“What the MHSA has been working really hard to do is help change and improve the view of skateboarders and I just hope that it can do that a bit more,” Kruk said.

Davie James, secretary with the association, said they didn’t originally plan to roll out the film in this big of a way, but they were inspired by Luke Fandrich’s ‘Your Cinema Needs You,’ documentary, that marked the Monarch’s reopening.

“We hope that more local projects and more creative people start putting their heads together to make really cool things happen at amazing local theatres,” James explained.

The premiere is about 60 per cent sold out right now and the Skateboard Association is considering adding more showings, or even submitting the documentary for film festivals.

James said you don’t have to be a skateboarder, or even like skate boarding to enjoy this film.

“It just so happens that we ride this piece of wood with four wheels. This is about people learning how to coexist and do something bigger than themselves,” said James.

You can grab tickets on TIXX.ca or at the Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre.