Chemainus is already famous, but about to gain more national acclaim.
With the 40th anniversary of the mural project on the horizon next year, the filming of a segment on Chemainus for the CBC-TV series B次元官网网址楽till StandingB次元官网网址� is sure to raise a whole new awareness and exposure to the town, particularly with the younger generation. The showB次元官网网址檚 crew and host Jonny Harris B次元官网网址� also of Murdoch Mysteries fame B次元官网网址� were in town for several days, culminating in the filming of the show wrap-up Thursday night.
The audience space allotted for the show was expanded to 120 from the original COVID plan in compliance with a change in provincial health protocols. A tent was set up in the parking lot at the former St. JosephB次元官网网址檚 School to serve as the venue.
People usually pack into community halls or school gyms to see it, but this is the fourth show of the seventh season thatB次元官网网址檚 been held in a tent instead due to COVID.
Executive producer Anne Francis was not part of the entourage that travelled to B.C. to also do a previous show in Hope, but took it all in at home in Toronto.
B次元官网网址淚 get piped into it,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 watching along with it and then texting seriously. I thought it looked great, though, with having to do it in a tent.B次元官网网址�
Those fortunate enough to get a seat were treated to a great performance, first from comedians Fraser Young and Graham Chittenden as warm-up acts, before Harris took the stage for the main event.
B次元官网网址淚 marvel every time,B次元官网网址� said Francis, who joined the Still Standing staff during Season 4 after extensive work on other shows in the industry.
Harris provided a great combination of information on Chemainus and comedy to be digested by a national audience B次元官网网址� and surely beyond that to international destinations B次元官网网址� once the show airs in 2022. Exact dates wonB次元官网网址檛 be confirmed until the completion of filming for Season 7.
The show has a dramatic impact across the country and previous towns featured have benefited greatly from the exposure.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e had a lot of communities come back to us and say theB次元官网网址檝e had an increase in real estate sales,B次元官网网址� said Francis. B次元官网网址淲e have people who do Still Standing tours across Canada.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e all very, very proud to work on it. ItB次元官网网址檚 like a love letter to Canada.B次元官网网址�
While she didnB次元官网网址檛 travel this time, Francis has found going to small communities from coast-to-coast an amazing experience.
B次元官网网址淵ou go to places you would probably never ever go to on your own,B次元官网网址� she indicated. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 many reasons to love working on this show. ItB次元官网网址檚 like a family.B次元官网网址�
Lucie Cerny and her Rescue and Sanctuary for Threatened Animals was among the featured segments on the program.
B次元官网网址淚t was an honour and IB次元官网网址檓 grateful to be included in the show,B次元官网网址� said Cerny.
She said Harris and crew spent several hours at her Chemainus Road location for an interview and filming.
B次元官网网址淚t was pretty surreal seeing the amount of work and how many people are involved in the crew in creating a production like that,B次元官网网址� added Cerny. B次元官网网址淭hey were incredibly nice people and kind and considerate and great to work with.B次元官网网址�
She was pleased Harris brought up the issue of teacup potbellied pigs in his presentation. They are becoming increasingly popular as household pets, but donB次元官网网址檛 remain small for long, and itB次元官网网址檚 a huge problem for the pigs and families, resulting in many being abandoned.
Harris told the tale of CernyB次元官网网址檚 initial move to Chemainus from Alberta that involved five trips of more than 1,000 kilometres one way, hauling a 40-foot trailer.
B次元官网网址淚 bet after two trips she thought, would that get any easier?B次元官网网址� queried Harris. B次元官网网址淢aybe when pigs fly.B次元官网网址�
The evolution of the mural project a year before the previous Chemainus sawmill closed down was foremost in HarrisB次元官网网址� recap of the townB次元官网网址檚 history.
Other Canadian communities like Churchill, Manitoba and Botwood and Bell Island, Newfoundland have followed suit, but Chemainus was the innovator.
B次元官网网址淚t was Chemainus, that is where it all started,B次元官网网址� Harris said. B次元官网网址淭he Little Town That Did is the Town That Did it first. Before Chemainus, whoB次元官网网址檇 have thought a mill town that lost its mill could turn it around with art?B次元官网网址�
Harris figures he could play a youngish mural guru Karl Schutz in a TV special. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be called, He Schutz, He Scores.B次元官网网址�
Harris spent some time with Michael Marks in his bright yellow B次元官网网址�55 Chevy to get the B次元官网网址渃ar scoopB次元官网网址� from around Chemainus.
B次元官网网址淗im and his buddies got jobs before they even left high school,B次元官网网址� he noted. B次元官网网址淛obs at the mill paid pretty well and you could start building yourself a car. All of this so you can B次元官网网址榖urn out.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
Harris met with Maynard Johnny Jr. to hear his story about creating Coast Salish art. His art is in high demand at galleries in Vancouver, Victoria B次元官网网址� even New York City B次元官网网址� and one of his pieces has been featured on the set of the TV show GreyB次元官网网址檚 Anatomy.
B次元官网网址淥ne of the only times an artist doesnB次元官网网址檛 mind his art being doctored,B次元官网网址� quipped Harris.
Aly Tomlin and Ralf Rosenke told Harris the details behind their Riot Brewing Co. enterprise in Chemainus.
Harris said he felt like Norm on Cheers going into the building.
B次元官网网址淭hey actually clap in a lot of the locals as well,B次元官网网址� he observed. B次元官网网址淚 guess itB次元官网网址檚 the Norm.B次元官网网址�
Harris kept the jokes flowing just like the beer thatB次元官网网址檚 on tap.
B次元官网网址淚 havenB次元官网网址檛 slung that many Junk Punches since junior high,B次元官网网址� he observed.
Harris talked to Brittany Pickard about being a so-called boomerang kid, someone who grew up in the town, left for a while but was lured back.
Harris summarized the program in his trademark rhyming fashion at the end.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of exciting stuff going on here right now,B次元官网网址� he concluded.
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