Coppermine
Historical Drama Filmed at Fort William Historical Park
By Kaleb Calder
Director Jeremy Torrie and his team at the Winnipeg-based White Bear Films are bringing a haunting piece of northern history to life with Coppermine, a sweeping historical drama based on Keith Ross Leckie’s 2008 novel of the same name.
While Coppermine spans the vast northern landscape, one of its most pivotal filming locations is close to home: Fort William Historical Park in Thunder Bay. Torrie, who was raised in Treaty 3 territory and calls the region “a gem,” says he immediately saw the Fort as essential to the film’s visual identity. “We needed a historical fort to recreate early 20th century northern Alberta, and the visuals here are breathtaking.” Torrie calls the filming experience, which took place late last summer, “fantastic.” He praises the staff for their professionalism and flexibility, transforming parts of the park, including its bell tower building, into period-accurate sets.
The film revisits true events from 1917. When two Catholic priests vanish in the frozen Arctic, a North West Mounted Police officer and his young Inuit guide set out on a perilous year-long journey to uncover the truth. What they find will challenge his faith, his sense of justice, and his humanity, and give him a deeper understanding of the people and culture he once viewed as foreign.
For Torrie, who co-wrote the script with Leckie, Coppermine was an opportunity to tell a story from a more balanced and human perspective. “I didn’t want to make another story centred on a white protagonist,” he explains. “These were real people—Indigenous and non-Indigenous—each with emotions, culture, and love.” The film is about understanding and connection, not division.
While filming, the production also worked closely with local crews and tourism partners, further boosting Thunder Bay’s growing reputation as a film-friendly destination. Torrie says he hopes to return to the region for future projects, including his upcoming film.
Torrie also praises the cast and crew for their dedication, noting how difficult the conditions could be—filming in frigid weather, often in period clothing, and even wading into icy water to capture authentic scenes. “It’s one thing to fund a film,” he says, “but it’s another to have people willing to go on this journey with you. Without that commitment, there wouldn’t be a movie.”
Currently midway through production, Coppermine is set to wrap in 2026, with hopes to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival or the Sundance Film Festival before a theatrical and streaming release. For Thunder Bay, it’s a proud moment—proving that even in the heart of Northwestern Ontario, cinema can find its home.
For more information, visit whitebearfilms.ca.