Shaunavon Profiled in Documentary
June 2, 2005
The Town of Shaunavon has been selected by Juxtapose Productions of Saskatoon as a community with a great story to tell. Shaunavon will be profiled in a one hour documentary entitled “Resurrection” along with the communities of Ogema and Leroy, Saskatchewan.
In the 1940’s over 80% of the population resided in rural Saskatchewan. Today it is less than 30%. Bateman, Chrichton, Estaury, Govenlock, all thriving towns in past years only to be abandoned by the people, swallowed backup by the prairie, and transformed into the ghost towns we see today.
And then, on the same principles and dreaming that gave birth to these small towns in the early 1900’s seeds of change are starting to sprout from the soil once again. In areas where there is less and less to look forward to there is a growing voice from the people determined to turn it all around.
Within this documentary the story of Shaunavon will unfold, from the establishment of the community in 1913 to today. It will look at how the community and its people had the drive and determination to reinvent and revitalize their community against the odds of extinction, a present day reality for rural Saskatchewan communities. It will further look at the plans and people who are planting the seeds of change that will keep the pulse of rural Saskatchewan alive for years to come.
McLeay Upshall of Juxtapose Productions says “the revitalization of these communities started with a change in attitude, and a desire to come together to make things work”.
The community of Shaunavon realized a need for change and made it. Starting with passing a resolution in Town Council to “opt out of the decline of rural Saskatchewan” from this developed a 10 year plan created in conjunction with the community along with a commitment to begin changing local attitudes. The Shaunavon Chamber of Commerce immediately honored this commitment with an “I Love Shaunavon” campaign. Next came the need to replace the aging skating and curling rink which evolved into Project 2002. To help fundraise for this project the community came together and hosted Hockey Day in Canada 2004; which raised $275,800 to go towards the construction of a facility that will also benefit a number of surrounding communities. Shaunavon is now building a new state-of-the-art $2.5 million shopping centre and continues to look into the future with the development of a life-lease housing project, a marketing campaign to attract new home construction, and development of a tourism centre. Other projects currently in development include the Agri Energy ethanol production facility and the Pine Cree Cattle Company feedlot project.
The Saskatchewan Communications Network will be broadcasting the documentary in the fall of 2005. SCN schedules are posted online at www.scn.ca and in PrimeTime, the SCN program guide.
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