FINDING DIAMONDS
DOCUMENTARY / LIFESTYLE SERIES / ANIMALS / MENTAL HEALTH
When filmmaker Ian Bawa’s life came crashing down with the unexpected death of his father, he turned to fostering dogs to help distract him from his grief. But then he met Diamond, a one-eyed yellow Labrador/Husky and the two have been inseparable ever since. Diamond is Ian’s constant companion that has helped him process the grief of losing his father. Finding Diamonds is a docu-series that follows Ian and Diamond as they travel across Canada and meet other people and pets like them, exploring the special relationship between humans and their support animals. Tales of grief and redemption found in the love of the smallest confidantes.
EPISODE SYNOPSIS:
Episode 101: Julie and Harper
Julie rescued her dog Harper from Costa Rica, just as she was starting to take the steps to have a baby. Little did she know, Harper, the scared and anxious street dog from Costa Rica, would become a beacon of hope and strength through a challenging fertility journey of loss and grief.
Episode 102: Xander and George
17-year-old Xander was the victim of a violent act of discrimination in his own high school. Xander talks to us about how his cat George helped him heal and find the courage to share his story through music.
Episode 103: Kristen and Sprout
After a traumatic brain injury, Kristen’s life as a touring rock musician came to a halt. Her sweet dog Sprout, who had been accompanying her on her adventures, started sensing Kristen’s needs and helping her. Kristen’s best friend soon became her certified service dog. Now, they work together helping others, and together they have found a way to make meaning out of misfortune.
Episode 104: Katrine and Limoilou
After the tragic loss of her husband only a few short years after they were married, 33-year-old Katrine leaned on the cat that followed her and Gaetan home early in their relationship for the comfort and understanding that her peers weren’t always equipped to provide.
Episode 105: Phoebe and Nemo
Phoebe comes from a long line of mushers. Having always been curious about building her own dogsled team, it was when a determined stray puppy followed her to work one morning that she knew she had somewhere to begin. After her father passed, it was this dog, and the other dogs from her team, who helped her stay connected with her dad, her ancestors and her land.
Episode 106: Naeila and Sherry
When conflict started brewing in Syria, Naeila’s cousin, a vet, appeared on her doorstep in the night with a 3-hour-old kitten who needed shelter. What entails is the incredible story of Naeila and her sister, bringing their cat Sherry with them across the country as a war was breaking out, sneaking him into a refugee camp and across national borders. This story of immeasurable loss and resilience is one that reflects the refugee experience, the ravages of war, but also the deep love and devotion that can exist between a person and their pet.