The recent death of documentary filmmaker Twyla Roscovich has weighed heavy on the minds of the many Powell River residents who knew her. Roscovich was known for her passion and integrity as an activist and film documentarian and also through her family, whose environmental efforts in Powell River have been well-documented.
Twyla's grandmother, Ruby, turned 100 years old last year and is highly regarded as one of Powell River's trailblazing environmentalists.
Twyla followed in Ruby's footsteps as an environmental activist. She was also the director of the documentary film Salmon Confidential, a 2013 exposé in which biologist Alexandra Morton discovers BC's wild salmon are testing positive for viruses associated with salmon farming, and the government's efforts to cover up the findings.
Twyla's family members, friends and fellow documentary filmmakers speak of someone who would give everything for the cause of environmentalism. Her uncle Dale referred to her as a "warrior goddess."
North Coast New Democratic Party MLA Jennifer Rice, a former college classmate of Twyla, delivered a tearful tribute to the filmmaker in the BC Legislature on September 18, calling her a "tireless advocate for protecting our coast" and an "incredible empath" who was "loved across this province."
A resident of Malcolm Island, Twyla was last seen on September 7. Her body was found on September 15 in Campbell River near the Quadra Island ferry dock. Twyla leaves behind her four-year-old daughter, Ruby, named after the young girl's great-grandmother.
Details surrounding Twyla's death are still being investigated, but police say no foul play is suspected. She had told her family she was headed south on Vancouver Island to seek medical treatment from a specialist and would camp in her car near Nanaimo on September 6.
Two weeks later, the Roscovich family is struggling with the loss of someone so dear to them, and trying to find the details and make sense of Twyla's final days.
Their message to those offering condolences is to check in with your family and friends as often as possible and always be there to support them. It could be too late before we even know it.
Jason Schreurs, publisher/editor
[A celebration of life for Twyla in Campbell River will be live-streamed on Sunday, October 8, at 2 pm at tvpowellriver.com.]
