Bringing Lethbridge to the big screen.
A city committee is directing the Administration and Economic Development of Lethbridge (EDL) to explore policy formulations to streamline the process for film companies interested in working in Lethbridge.
“We know there’s filming and television going on in Lethbridge. What opportunities are we missing out on?” asked Count. Jane Schmidt-Rampel, member of the Economic Standing Policy Committee.
“It is time for us to start building some policies and frameworks so that we can move beyond these questions and be a part of this industry.”
As EDL CEO Trevor Levington says filming requests come to him, the city and the University of Lethbridge have no clear direction on where they should go.
He wants to see Lethbridge take advantage of an industry that, according to Invest Alberta, generated nearly half a billion dollars in direct economic impact across the province last year.
“Lethbridge has historically not necessarily gotten its fair share of my mind,” Levington said.
“We have many TV and film productions in our city and our region, but I think there is an opportunity to go after more than that.”
The City of Fort MacLeod has seen a number of projects run through the municipality, including Ghostbusters: Afterlife and more recently, HBO’s the last of us,
And when film crews come to town when executives see an economic boost, they say the effect lasts much longer than the production period.
Lisa Gillingham, director of community and protective services for the Town of Fort McLeod, said, “The best comebacks are almost after the movies come out and people want to come back to your town to see some of the sites that were in the movies. Huh.”
“This film-inspired tourism is a phenomenon that is happening around the world,” Levington said.
“I think there is an opportunity to better promote Lethbridge so we benefit.”
Such an effect is one that Schmidt-Rampel hopes the city can take advantage of.
“Let’s secure our place in this industry and let people know we’re interested and we want people to come to Lethbridge to film,” Schmidt-Rampel said.
The Economic Standing Policy Committee will receive a report on 28 September.
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