After more than a decade of championing environmental sustainability and engaging partners to join Reel Green™ in its mission, Julie Bernard is retiring from Creative BC on July 2, 2026, leaving behind a legacy that helped transform a pioneering initiative into a globally recognized force rooted in British Columbia.
Julie began her career as a Location Manager before joining the BC Film Commission in 2000. Reel Green™ was established in 2006, but it would take nearly a decade for the industry to embrace sustainable production practices at scale. As momentum grew in 2015, Julie recognized an opportunity to advance a cause she cared deeply about and took on the additional role of Manager, Reel Green™ Partnerships.
“It was my passion project,” said Julie. “I felt it was time to do something to help the production world.”
That shift took hold in 2016, when Julie, together with Marnie Gee, Julie Stangeland, Kelsey Evans, and Zena Harris, developed Reel Green™’s first strategic plan, marking the beginning of a period of sustained growth for the initiative. Working closely with industry partners across the province, Julie secured more than $100,000 in support from unions, studios, and equipment suppliers that year alone, funding that proved critical to establishing Reel Green™’s foundation.
Known for her “nobody-can-say-no” attitude, Julie brought people together around a common goal to make film and television production more sustainable. Whether advocating for resources, securing sponsorships, or building partnerships, she approached every challenge with determination and optimism.
Her efforts helped launch National Reel Green™ Committee in 2021, serving as the co-chair for the last five years, helping bring together sustainability leaders from across Canada and beyond. Watching the conversation grow beyond British Columbia has been one of her proudest accomplishments.
“A highlight for me is that people from Los Angeles attend the meetings,” she said. “The industry has come a long way in the last 10 years.”
The REEL Earth Day Challenge, launched in 2021, has further showcased Julie’s exceptional fundraising talent. Since its inception, she has spearheaded the campaign for five consecutive years, helping raise more than $640,000 to date for the Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Foundation. For Julie, however, the greatest achievement has never been the dollars raised – it has always been the impact of the work itself.
“Reel Green™ wouldn’t be what it is today without Julie’s determination,” said Marnie Gee, BC Film Commissioner at Creative BC. “She took a passion project and turned it into a movement that reshaped how this industry thinks about environmental sustainability. We wish her all the best in her retirement and will continue building upon her mission.”
As Julie begins her retirement, the motion picture industry celebrates both her accomplishments and the relationships she built along the way. A respected industry leader, tireless advocate, and fundraising champion, Julie leaves the initiative well-positioned for the future, while her legacy and the impact of her work will continue to for years to come.
Please join us in wishing Julie “all the greenest” in her retirement.