Banff Centre Mountain Festival Announces Mountain Spirit Award Winner

BANFF CENTRE, ALBERTA - The Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival is thrilled to announce Léa Flowers Nelson as the recipient of this year’s Mountain Spirit Award.

This prestigious award recognizes young individuals, between the ages of 15 to 25, who seek to initiate positive change to celebrate, protect and advocate for the outdoors.

Léa is known in her community for her unwavering passion and commitment, consistently pushing herself to grow and inspire those around her. Since grade 10, she has been an integral member of the Canadian Rockies Youth Network (CRYN), a youth-led organization dedicated to promoting Indigenous perspectives and empowering young people across Alberta to take meaningful action against the climate crisis.

Last summer, Léa participated in the Girls* on Ice Canada Illecillewaet expedition, an experience that deepened her commitment to environmental stewardship. Alongside her expedition work, she plays a vital role in the CRYN administration team and co-leads her school’s environmental club, fostering a culture of sustainability among her peers.

Léa’s dedication and leadership serve as an inspiration to her community and beyond.

To learn more about this year’s finalists and the competition, visit https://www.banffcentre.ca/banff-mountain-spirit-award.

Located in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival is a globally recognized event and tour celebrating the beauty, adventure, and culture of mountains globally. The nine-day festival will be held from October 26 through to November 3 this year and features over 70 events, bringing films and stories of adventure and exploration from around the world to Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Banff, Alberta. The festival showcases live events with adventurers, authors, photographers, and filmmakers sharing their inspiring stories.

Online films are available in Canada and the United States from November 6 to 13.

Please visit banffcentre.ca/film-fest for more information.

Media Contact

Interested in reporting on this or any other Banff Centre story? Members of the media can reach out to communications@banffcentre.ca for more information.