A Canadian Netflix series will feature Elma Street in an upcoming episode.
Cameras and crew for the show Wynonna Earp, a supernatural western following Wyatt Earp’s great-granddaughter as she battles demons and other creatures, landed in Okotoks last week for a day of production.
Though it was only for one day, there could be far-reaching implications, said Okotoks community events specialist Mark Doherty.
“We’re really just trying to accommodate these guys,” said Doherty. “One of the comments made by Mike Smith, the assistant site location manager, was that it was a really good experience working with the Town and he wants to bring more filming to Okotoks, so that’s a huge plus for us.”
Even one day can have an economic impact, he said. They still need to purchase things like fuel and food, and might shop locally for supplies, he said.
There were also rental fees at the Foothills Centennial Centre, and the production company Seven24 Films gave a donation to the Okotoks Elks Hall for the use of parking spaces behind the building, he said.
“It does create an economic impact in that sense,” said Doherty.
It also draws people out to see what’s being filmed, he said. There were a lot of people on the perimeter of the shoot to check things out, and those people may in turn decide to eat or shop nearby, he said.
It’s the third time Okotoks has been featured in recent years, including independent film Ice Blue last April.
“It’s just a cool thing to see,” said Doherty. “People are excited when filming comes to town, and they want to see it. And it puts Okotoks on the map. It’s pretty positive all around.”
The filming took place outside Cheryl Taylor’s Elma Street home. Taylor, Okotoks Arts Council president, said it was interesting to see a production crew at work right outside her front window.
“We certainly enjoyed seeing that whole process unfold,” said Taylor. “As far as I understand it was one small scene they were shooting. It’s amazing how much work goes into producing what could very well be just a few seconds or a couple of minutes of scene, of action in the production they’re doing.”
She said it would be great to see more filming opportunities come to town.
There has been a push in the arts community to encourage more film shooting in Okotoks, she said. At one time, some were trying to have the producers of Heartland or other productions companies transform a hangar at the Okotoks airport into a sound stage.
“Unfortunately that never went ahead, but certainly there is a strong desire in the community to provide opportunities for shooting and stimulate some work in that field,” said Taylor. “Personally, I fully support that.”
