Canmore Man's Recovery Journey Featured in Banff Mountain Film Festival

For Canmore resident Skye Lybbert, the mountains have become much more than a place to hike, ski or paraglide. They've played an important role in helping him rebuild his life after a traumatic brain injury changed the future he had planned.

Now, his experience is the subject of a short documentary set to screen at the 2026 Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival, which runs from Oct. 31 to Nov. 8.

Patches of Skye follows Skye's journey from a promising young geologist to someone learning to navigate life with a brain injury, chronic pain and the loss of a career he once loved.

Through hiking, skiing, surfing and paragliding, it explores how returning to the outdoors helped him rediscover parts of himself he feared he had lost.

But as Skye explains, that process has been anything but straightforward.

The Road to Recovery

Before his injury, Skye had built much of his identity around geology.

He graduated from the University of Alberta with the highest academic standing in his geology program and had begun graduate studies when a serious vehicle collision changed his life approximately nine years ago.

The collision left him with a traumatic brain injury that affected his ability to concentrate, learn and enjoy activities he once loved. Even simple tasks became exhausting, while physical activity could trigger migraines, vertigo and nausea.

"Geology was ... something that I was really passionate about," Skye told Bow Valley Insider.

"Just losing that really was hard. I struggled a lot with it, and it took a while for me to kind of just accept where I was at."

Although he eventually stepped away from his career plans, his passion for geology remained.

"I wouldn't say it's fully closed because I'm still passionate. I'm still curious with the rocks and the mountains around me and what's going on."

Beyond the physical symptoms, Skye also struggled with isolation and the invisible nature of his injury.

"A lot of people look at me and they think I'm okay, but inside me it's all invisible," he said.

Finding His Way Back to the Mountains

Spending time outdoors had always been part of Skye's life. Growing up, he enjoyed backpacking, camping and climbing, interests that eventually drew him to geology.

Following the accident, even short periods of exercise could trigger concussion symptoms.

"If I exercised more than 15 minutes or like 50 metres, 100 metres of elevation was a lot for me," he recalled.

Skye gradually returned to hiking, taking frequent breaks and using photography to slow down and appreciate his surroundings.

"I spent a lot of time in the outdoors and by myself, did a lot of solo hiking, a lot of solo adventures through the mountains on my own," he said. "I found comfort in that."

Over time, he gradually returned to skiing, surfing and eventually paragliding. But his symptoms haven't disappeared.

There are still days when he reaches the top of a mountain intending to paraglide, only to realize he isn't feeling well enough to fly. Sometimes, that means hiking back down.

"I've just really learned to be in tune with myself and set boundaries for myself and know my body enough to know when to call it," he said.

For Skye, returning to the outdoors has meant learning patience, accepting his limitations and finding enjoyment in what he's able to do.

Turning a Personal Journey Into a Film

The documentary was directed by Thomas O'Hara, an Edmonton-based filmmaker who first met Skye through their shared interest in surfing.

After reconnecting years later, O'Hara became interested in documenting Skye's recovery, particularly because his journey was still unfolding.

"We're not looking back and saying we have all the answers," O'Hara told Bow Valley Insider.

"I think it's the nice thing about a short-form doc like this is we're exploring what it feels like to be actively trying to solve these issues of how do you reinvent yourself? How do you find yourself when everything changes?"

The pair began discussing the project in 2024, spending roughly a year developing the idea and building trust before filming began.

O'Hara said their friendship helped Skye feel comfortable sharing some of the more difficult parts of his experience.

Rather than focusing exclusively on his outdoor accomplishments, the documentary explores the less visible challenges of living with a brain injury.

"To the outside world, he looks healthy, he looks like he can do all these things and no one can see inside his head," O'Hara said.

"Making a movie that hopefully sheds a light on that internal struggle and what he's processing in real time can help other people as well."

Sharing His Story to Help Others

For Skye, agreeing to share his experience publicly wasn't an easy decision.

He said it took considerable time to become comfortable speaking openly about his injury, particularly after spending much of his recovery feeling isolated.

But those experiences are also part of why he wanted to participate in the documentary.

"I just want people who are going through something that they don't feel like they're alone as well," he said.

"That's why I've been pretty open and honest sharing my whole journey."

He hopes the film encourages others experiencing difficult circumstances to seek support and recognize that progress doesn't always happen on the timeline they expect.

For O'Hara, bringing the documentary to the Banff festival is an opportunity to share that message with a wider audience.

He's also looking forward to experiencing the screening alongside Skye's friends and family.

"At the end of the day, what it is for me is just a celebration of Skye," O'Hara said.

As the festival approaches, Skye said he's experiencing a mixture of emotions, but is ultimately excited for people to see the film.

More than anything, he hopes his experience resonates with someone facing challenges of their own.

"I just hope that it relates to the people who see it and those who need help will see that there is hope there," he said.

The 17-minute documentary will make its world premiere at the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 10 a.m., at the Max Bell Auditorium.

The film will also be available to stream online from Nov. 12 to 22 through the festival's Culture Shorts 2 and Canada-Only Shorts programs.

Tickets for the in-person screening are available through Banff Centre.