A Q&A with documentarian Mike Downie, in advance of his keynote at MPI’s theEVENT, Sept 7-9, in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

What can you tease about your keynote at theEVENT, “Creating Community and Telling Canada’s Story”?

I learned about the importance of telling Canadian stories from directing The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal doc series, and this keynote is built off those lessons. We explored how The Hip built real community among their fans by telling such great Canadian stories in their songs. Their work created such a quiet, powerful pride among so many Canadians and I’m fascinated by that.

What do you hope attendees of your at theEVENT take away from your keynote?

I hope they take away the notion that telling and sharing stories is the glue that holds us together in groups both large and small.

Can you share an “ah ha” moment you’ve had regarding the importance of storytelling?

If I do my job right at an event like this my stories will create connection and stronger community among the attendees, demonstrating perfectly the power of story to bring us together. And it that creates a little extra pressure on me to make that happen—so be it!

What about an “ah ha” moment relative to the importance of in-person events—have you experienced that?

Well, perhaps the best example of the importance of in-person events was the recent Oasis concert. My sons, Will and Noah, and I were so far back from the stage, but it didn’t matter. We were arm in arm singing along to every song with the other 50,000 fans in attendance. We were one! Now that’s community.