ABOUT THE FILM
A chronic infection is forcing Alicia Newell to consider an elective leg amputation.
To understand what life and sport might look like as an amputee, Alicia turns to her climbing partner Nicolas Sabia, who is a lower-limb amputee, and a member of Canada’s para-climbing team. With deep insight and an irreverent sense of humour, Nick and the other members of the adaptive climbing community open Alicia’s eyes to the world of adaptive climbing and the daily realities of living with a disability.
This film follows Alicia and the Canadian para-climbing team as they work to build a national training camp in Canmore, AB while Alicia learns from their experiences and reaches a decision regarding her own amputation.
Why this film and why now?
Alicia’s decision about amputation coincides with para-climbing’s debut in the 2028 Summer Paralympics. This timeline allows us to capture Alicia’s story amidst the grassroots development of Canada’s Paralympic climbing team.
The para-climbing team offers lived experience of adaptive athletics, accessibility, the power of community, and the value of keeping a sense of humour while navigating complex medical realities.
Alicia offers a unique perspective of an able-bodied athlete who is learning about adaptive athletics from the outside, allowing able-bodied audience members to inhabit her perspective and ask themselves the same questions, like, “what would I choose?”
Where
are you filming?
The team is spread out across Canada! So far we’ve filmed in:
Canmore, Alberta
Saint John, New Brunswick
La Prairie, Quebec
Guelph, Ontario
London, Ontario
Kitchener, Ontario
What are the goals of the film?
Educate and reduce uncertainty for anyone who may face a decision similar to Alicia’s.
Raise the profile of the Canadian para-climbing team to grow the athlete pipeline and national training program ahead of the 2028 Paralympics.
Highlight the power of community in adaptive sport to increase awareness among athletes with disabilities.
Make the audience weep at the plight of a middle-aged woman who has had to change her climbing style this late in the game.
Who is the intended audience?
The content of Making the Cut will appeal to outdoor enthusiasts, climbing communities, adaptive athletes, and viewers who are drawn to human stories and dark humor.
This film’s message is for anyone who will face disability in their life (so… basically everyone). Athlete or not, most of us will have to learn to adapt how we live and move as our bodies change from illness, injury, or age.
Making the Cut will reach audiences through festival premieres, outdoor film tours, and digital distribution.
Who we are
Tyler Burr
Tyler Burr has worked in commercial video production for 10 years, gaining experience in all areas and scales of commercial productions. He lives in Saint John, New Brunswick with his partner Rachel.
In 2024, Tyler’s first climbing documentary “Carved from Stone” was selected as a finalist at nine film festivals (including the Banff Centre Mountain Film & Book Festival, and two world tours).
Tyler is director, DOP, lead cinematographer and producer on this film.
Alicia Newell
Alicia Newell is a lifelong "mid" athlete, climber, and the central subject of the film, who is also serving in a producer role.
Alicia lives in Guelph, Ontario with her husband, Steve, who doesn’t share her aversion to solid ground, but supports her anyway.
In 2023, Alicia developed a rare type of infection after a surgical complication. In 2025, the infection was deemed chronic and elective amputation entered the chat.
Nicolas Sabia
Nicolas (Nick) lives in Guelph, Ontario with his partner Autumn. Nick has too many interests to list, but he is a climber, avid outdoorsman, triathlete, and bike enthusiast.
Nick became a lower-limb amputee in 2019 and became a member of Canada’s para-climbing team in 2024.
Nick and Alicia had been climbing together since 2023, and in 2025, he became Alicia’s unofficial amputation guide.