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In July of 2001, one life would change a sleepy town on the West Coast of Vancouver Island forever.

Killer Whale L98 – more affectionately known around the globe as Luna – emerged from the ocean waters and unknowingly impacted a community, an island, a province and a country. The life Luna lived was an incredible one, and the ripple effect he had has been captured in a touching documentary entitled Saving Luna.

Photo: Byron Bay Film Festival/Mountainside Films

Knowing that I have a deep love and affinity for killer whales, Becky invited me to a private screening of the film at the Vancouver Aquarium. Naturally, I accepted in a heartbeat.

What started as a three-week journalism assignment about a curious orca calf for the husband and wife team of Suzanne Chisholm and Michael Parfit turned into a three-year adventure.

When Luna first showed up in the Gold River area of Nootka Sound, people were perplexed how such a young killer whale was surviving at his age – let alone thriving – all alone. But soon enough, local residents were keenly aware that Luna was reaching out…

Killer whales, by nature, are social creatures – very much like humans. And when Luna found himself surrounded by creatures who were unlike him, he seemingly made the choice to communicate and show affection. While some considered Luna to be a nuisance, countless others fell deeply in love with Nootka Sound’s newest resident.

It wasn’t long, however, before controversy began to stir at a fervent rate. Saving Luna tells the tale of a whale, of the Department of Fisheries and Ocean’s decision to attempt to relocate Luna back with his pod, a community’s battle to adopt the whale and the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations’ deep desire to protect a creature that was so affectingly respected and understood.

Despite years of ongoing efforts, on March 10, 2006 Luna collided with the propeller of a local tug boat. He did not survive.

More than two years after Luna’s death, to this day no one truly seems to know why Luna graced the world with his presence. His playful antics and seemingly magical effect have been greatly mourned. Saving Luna begs many questions of its viewers: should Luna have rejoined his pod? Should he have remained in Nootka Sound where he chose to make his home and communicate with human beings? And most importantly, what does Luna represent in consideration of the love, affection and attention we as mammals all have an innate need for?

The film was concluded with a panel discussion including the film’s producers/directors, Jamie James of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht band, a member of the DFO and esteemed staff of the Vancouver Aquarium. If you’d like to find out more about this very special documentary, visit Saving Luna’s official website and view the trailer on YouTube.

P.S. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. By the time the credits rolled, there wasn’t a dry eye in the theatre.