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Mike McKay

Mike McKay

Volunteer Videographer

Followers of Mike McKay424 followers
location of Mike McKayChelsea, Quebec, Canada

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  • Timeline

  • About me

    Cinematographer & Director | Award-Winning Storyteller | Connecting Stories to Emotion & Purpose

  • Education

    • Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology

      2010 - 2011
      Documentary Film Production

      Post Grad Documentary Film Production

    • The University of Western Ontario

      1998 - 2001
      Bachelor's degree MIT: Media, Information, Technology

      Media Information Technoculture

  • Experience

    • Ottawa Riverkeeper | Sentinelle de la rivière des Outaouais

      Nov 2009 - Sept 2010
      Volunteer Videographer

      Various video projects including work on the Ottawa River Summit.

    • Five2Nine Productions

      Dec 2009 - May 2022
      Owner

      Award-winning filmmaker: Whether the end result is to inform through a story, for marketing or training & development, I am passionate about telling narratives in a visually appealing way. While I do some television, I specialize in content for web-based delivery. Ottawa-based but free to travel.

    • First Descents

      Aug 2011 - Aug 2011
      Volunteer Videographer

      Filmed and produced short film about the first ever First Descents camp for young adult Cancer survivors in Canada.

    • Rescue For River Runners

      Feb 2012 - Feb 2014
      Co-Founder, Producer

      Rescue For River Runners is an online river rescue resource for paddlers, instructors, and people generally interested in Whitewater Rescue Training.

    • NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc.

      Jan 2013 - Jan 2016
      Video Producer

      Producer of promotional content highlighting NRS products on and off rivers.

    • Ottawa Adventure Film Festival

      Oct 2017 - Dec 2021
      Festival Director

    • Self-employed

      May 2022 - Dec 2024
      Freelance Filmmaker, Cinematographer & Producer

      I believe stories have the power to connect, inspire, and ignite change.As a filmmaker with over a decade of experience, I specialize in crafting visual narratives that evoke emotion, connect deeply with audiences, and communicate purpose. My expertise lies in branded storytelling, cinematography, web video production, and post-production, with a strong focus on projects based in the Ottawa area.I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with local organizations, non-profits, and businesses, using storytelling to inform, inspire, and connect.Notable Clients & Projects:CPAWS-Ottawa Valley: Produced compelling conservation-focused storytelling content to support environmental advocacy.University of Ottawa: Created engaging educational and promotional videos tailored to connect with students and prospective applicants.Ottawa Riverkeeper: Developed storytelling campaigns focused on river conservation, environmental stewardship, reconciliation and advocacy.Enbridge: Produced branded storytelling content emphasizing environmental responsibility, sustainability, and community engagement in partnership with Tartan Homes & Posterity Group.Level Six: Captured dynamic water and outdoor adventure stories, delivering branded visual content for web-based audiences and created The Story of Level Six as a emotional brand identity story.Key Strengths:Extensive experience in cinematography, storytelling strategy, video production, and post-production.15+ years of local stock footage amassed from across the Ottawa region—including nature, adventure, urban landscapes, and cultural moments—providing added context, depth, and authenticity to every project.A proven track record of collaborating directly with clients or multi-media teams to create visually compelling, emotional narratives that connect with target audiences. Show less

  • Licenses & Certifications

  • Honors & Awards

    • Awarded to Mike McKay
      Best Short Film Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival Feb 2023
    • Awarded to Mike McKay
      613km Award Ottawa Adventure Film Festival Nov 2017
    • Awarded to Mike McKay
      Best Short Film International Outdoor Film Festival Oct 2016
    • Awarded to Mike McKay
      Best Film - Chaos Theory National Paddling Film Festival Feb 2016 For 34 years the National Paddling Film Festival has been hosting a competition to determine the best in paddle sport videos and images.This competition has provided the paddling community with a fun and profitable event to support American Whitewater and river conservation. In that time, the NPFF has also helped to raise the quality of paddle sport entertainment by providing recognition of talent along with important and useful feedback for the artists who make the show a possibility.
    • Awarded to Mike McKay
      Best Film From Away Maine Outdoor Film Festival Dec 2015 CHAOS THEORY: POINT OF DIVERGENCEBest Film From Away
    • Awarded to Mike McKay
      National Association of Search & Rescue Special Commendation Higgins & Langley Memorial Awards May 2013 The Higgins and Langley Memorial Awards in Swiftwater Rescue honor outstanding achievement in the technical rescue discipline of swiftwater and flood rescue. They are not heroism awards, but rather recognize preparedness, teamwork, and a job well done, sometimes under extreme conditions, where training is vital to the success of rescue missions, as well as the safety of rescue personnel."Rescue for River Runners" is an impressive educational video series that raises awareness within the… Show more The Higgins and Langley Memorial Awards in Swiftwater Rescue honor outstanding achievement in the technical rescue discipline of swiftwater and flood rescue. They are not heroism awards, but rather recognize preparedness, teamwork, and a job well done, sometimes under extreme conditions, where training is vital to the success of rescue missions, as well as the safety of rescue personnel."Rescue for River Runners" is an impressive educational video series that raises awareness within the recreational whitewater community about swiftwater rescue, including self-rescue, river hazards, and whitewater boating safety. Jim Coffey's expertise as a swiftwater rescue instructor, and Michael McKay's skill as a videographer, lend unique authenticity to each episode. The complete series is offered online, which ensures that river guides and paddlers worldwide have easy access to critical lifesaving information to help prevent deaths and injuries. Show less

  • Volunteer Experience

    • Videography

      Issued by Ottawa Riverkeeper | Sentinelle de la rivière des Outaouais on Nov 2009
      Ottawa Riverkeeper | Sentinelle de la rivière des OutaouaisAssociated with Mike McKay