L-R) Axel Bouma, Cayle McConville and Micah Hindman created an award winning WorkSafeBC video. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

hit video

Nanaimo students produce award-winning comedic workplace safety video

May 21, 2024 | 5:31 AM

NANAIMO — A fiery video by a trio of Nanaimo Christian School (NCS) students turned out to be an explosive hit in a WorkSafeBC video contest.

The tenth graders landed first place in an annual contest by the workplace regulator in the grades 8-10 division for their creative entry ‘The Shop.’ It features over-confident and self-proclaimed blacksmith expert Cayle McConville.

He’s constantly distracted while working in his shop, eventually leading to an ignited propane tank explosion and fire.

“It was a lot of fun making it, having a fire, filming it and working in the shop and designing the set, we had a great time doing it,” McConville told NanaimoNewsNOW during a recent visit to the private school.

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He teamed up in March with fellow 15-year-old classmates Micah Hindman and Axel Bouma for the assignment in their Career 10 class.

McConville conveniently has a workshop at home, while his classmates incorporated their video editing, directing and set design skills to pull off a nearly two minute knee-slapper.

“Creating something that won is pretty cool, it shows what you can do with your time to make something cool,” McConville said.

Bouma, who made a cameo appearance in the video, was tasked with creating the set, including building and unscrewing a wooden shed that went up in flames and collapsed.

He said their vision constantly progressed from the initial idea of a basic video with clear messaging.

“The more we got started we came up with more crazier ideas, it just advanced into the final product,” Bouma said.

While he didn’t feature on-screen, Micah Hindman provided an instrumental role as lead camera operator, editor and director.

Hindman had no prior direct video shooting and editing experience

“I have a history of doing coding and stuff, I’m just interested in computers in general. It’s my first production of actually editing something,” Hindman said.

Proud teacher
Beaming with pride, NCS teacher Rhonda Libbus said she’s extremely proud of what her students accomplished.

She said they spent many hours on the project and were highly enthusiastic.

“I was excited that they were excited about it.”

Libbus said the students split a $1,000 WorkSafeBC prize and arrangements are being made to invite representatives from the Crown corporation to the school next month to formally recognize them.

The video demonstrates what hard work, willingness to learn and positive attitudes can accomplish, according to Libbus.

She said a high academic pedigree means little to an employer if it’s not matched with the right attitude.

“What the world is looking for and what they’re going to be judged on is their work ethic and their character,” Libbus said. “What this product really showed is these three guys have an incredible work ethic.”

“My mom said no gas”, Cayle McConville and his classmates safely destroyed a wooden shed in an award-winning fiery WorkSafeBC video. (NCS)

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