Public Lecture

 

Beneath The Surface

Join award-winning filmmakers Yvonne Drebert and Zach Melnick at the 2025 Marine Heritage Festival for an unforgettable journey beneath the surface of the Great Lakes. 

Over the past four years, this husband-and-wife team has used their state-of-the-art underwater robot to explore one of the world’s largest freshwater ecosystems – revealing dazzling aquatic landscapes, elusive species, and a rapidly changing underwater world reshaped by invasive mussels.

Their footage has captured rare wildlife behaviours, helped inform ongoing scientific research, and even led to the discovery of the Africa, a steamer lost in 1895 and found over 300 feet below the surface – its story making headlines around the world.

In this visually rich and thought-provoking talk, Drebert and Melnick share highlights from their most recent documentary, All Too Clear, explore how technology and storytelling can drive conservation, and offer a behind-the-scenes look at what fuels their passion for uncovering the hidden life of our freshwater lakes. A moderated Q&A will follow. 

 

The underwater camera drone technology used by Yvonne & Zach will be on display.

Presented by: RBC Royal Bank of Canada

Watch the Marine Heritage Festival webpage for ticket details.

This new event is designed for growing families with youth aged approximately 12 and up who are comfortable participating in a 90-minute group learning experience – offering fresh perspectives on the Great Lakes and highlighting the power of curiosity to inspire skills, guide careers, and spark future adventures.

About the Filmmakers

Yvonne Drebert and Zach Melnick, Fellows of the Canadian Geographical Society and co-founders of Inspired Planet Productions, have together produced over 40 hours of nationally broadcast documentaries that shine a light on Canada’s diverse natural and cultural landscapes. Their work includes The Bruce, a three-part series exploring the history of Ontario’s Bruce Peninsula, and Striking Balance, which profiles communities across Canada’s UNESCO biosphere reserves.

 Their most recent project, the 2024 TVO documentary series All Too Clear – a 2025 Canadian Screen Award nominee – marks a bold shift underwater. Using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), Drebert and Melnick have documented rarely seen aquatic environments, contributing valuable footage to freshwater science and revealing pressing ecological changes in the Great Lakes. They invite you to join them on their journey to reveal the hidden beauty and urgent stories of the freshwater ecosystems we all depend on – but rarely see.              

 

Yvonne & Zach’s documentary series, including behind the scenes video, is available online in Canada for free at All To Clear

This festival public lecture also serves as a pilot for a possible MHS Explorations series highlighting marine topics, adventure, and achievement. Based on audience feedback, organizers may offer an annual talk, and perhaps additional lectures as opportunities evolve – sharing inspiring stories with marine enthusiasts locally and, potentially, online.