years_active birth_place nationality name birth_date notable_works article_title birth_name occupation
1990s-present gibsons , british columbia canadian velcrow ripper 20 october 1963 '' when spirit meets action '' , '' occupy love '' scared sacred '' , '' fierce light : velcrow ripper
 steve ripper documentary filmmaker
velcrow ripper

velcrow ripper -lrb- born october 20 , 1963 in gibsons , british columbia -rrb- is a canadian documentary filmmaker , writer , and public speaker , best known for his genie award-winning 2006 film `` scared sacred '' and his newest feature documentary , `` fierce light : when spirit meets action '' .
his 1995 feature documentary , `` bones of the forest '' , won twelve major awards , including a genie award , and best of the festival at the hot docs canadian international documentary festival .
many of his films examine the intersection of spirituality and politics .
he has also been a contributor to `` ascent '' and `` shambhala sun '' magazines , which explore similar issues .
his writing has also appeared in the anthologies , `` we are everywhere '' and `` dam nation '' .
he is a co-founder of the gulf islands film and television school , and has taught film at emily carr institute of art and design , and at the ontario college of art and design .
he also teaches workshops and lectures on the themes of spirituality and activism .
born steve ripper , he was raised in british columbia as a baha'i .
he later adopted the nickname velcrow while participating in punk rock culture in his youth .
he currently lives on toronto island .
