While researching my documentary, Anna Kaljas: The Untold Story, I noticed that even longtime residents of Kitchener-Waterloo tend to draw a blank when I mention the name Anna Kaljas.
But call her The Snake Lady and eyes light up!
It seems that despite being awarded the Order of Canada and her exceptional commitment to housing the disenfranchised, it’s Anna’s encounter with slithery serpents that’s had a lasting imprint on the public imagination.
My documentary will add some context to this relationship. Yes, it is true that big snakes shared Anna’s Kitchener shelters for a short period. Her family and friends remember them well! But like everything in Anna’s life, they were part of a rescue mission. (When a need arises, what’s a quirky pragmatist to do?)
Fortunately, the snake tale is just one of the amazing twists and turns in a truly remarkable life you’ll learn about in the my 75 minute documentary.
Anna Kaljas: The Unknown Story debuts Thursday, Sept. 21 at the Princess Twin Cinemas, 46 King St. N., Waterloo. On opening night, $10 of each ticket sold will be donated to a grassroots housing initiative, A Better Tent City.
Visually Speaking 