Carrie Lavinia Hunter

Carrie Hunter was born on January 24, 1942, at Holy Cross Hospital in Calgary. She attended Queen Elizabeth High School before launching her career as a feature reporter at the Calgary Herald—a role she later called her “all time favourite,”. She loved writing about interesting people from all walks of life and had fond memories of interviewing the likes of Johnny Mathis and Walt Disney.

She then moved to CFCN television as a writer-producer, where she met her future husband, Eddie Hunter, on her very first day. They were married in April 1962. As a new mother, Carrie freelanced for The Albertan (later the Calgary Sun), earning the affectionate nickname “the pencil-packing mama” from the editor of McCall’s magazine.

In 1969, the family relocated to Banff, where she joined the Summit News as staff writer and editor. She later worked with the Provisional Administration Board, forming early task forces on municipal governance years before Banff officially became a town.

Carrie’s defining professional chapter began in November 1979, when David Leighton recruited her to launch the Banff Television Festival—later known as the Banff World Media Festival. He hooked her with the promise: “It can be anything you want it to be”. Within months she was on a plane to Berlin—her first time flying alone—and realized “My life had just changed forever. It would never be the same again.” She went on to lead the festival for 17 transformative years.

As Eric Volmers of the Calgary Herald wrote in April, “Much of the Banff World Media Festival’s success can be credited to Carrie Hunter’s early enthusiasm and tireless efforts to turn it into an internationally recognized go to event for the industry’s most powerful movers and shakers.”

Jenn Kuzmyk, the festival’s current executive director, echoed that legacy: “Carrie left us with an incredible legacy. Her boundless energy and a ‘dare to do’ attitude brought industry heavyweights and celebrities like Gregory Peck, Sir Laurence Olivier, Bea Arthur and even k.d. lang, to Banff.” This spirit of innovation and charm became the festival’s hallmark. At the latest festival, Carrie’s memory was honoured with the inaugural Carrie Hunter Emerging Talent Prize—a tribute to her role as “a driving force” and mentor.

In 1995, Carrie moved to Vancouver while continuing her work with the festival. She eventually felt called to ministry and served as a spiritual minister for 21 years—first at the White Rock Centre for Spiritual Living in Surrey, then founding the Agape Centre in Vancouver, and most recently at the Centre for Spiritual Living in Victoria.

Carrie is survived by her two daughters, Mystee Maisonet (Richard) and Kendall Hunter, and grandchildren: Jake Maisonet [Soleil Pieters-Bergeron), Noah Maisonet, Sadie Hunter (Russel Uddin) and Jemima Maycock. Carrie was also predeceased by her parents Ethel and Edward Whiteley and brother Ed (Bess) of Calgary; and wished to include her birth mother, Constance Hope Gibson and birth father, Earl Moseley of Calgary and half-sister Peggy (Tiki) Mulvihill (Brian) of Vancouver.

The family extends a heartfelt thank-you to those who supported Carrie in her final months, and especially to the home care workers and staff at Banff Mineral Springs Hospital. The compassion and dedicated care in our little mountain town is unsurpassed and will forever be remembered.