DIDSBURY - Town council has approved a plan to spend $15,000 to repair the roof of the former Didsbury fire hall, recently used as a movie set for the film Under the Banner of Heaven.
Located at the corner of 19th Avenue and 19th Street, the building has not been used by the fire department for a number of years. Its roof is in need of repair, with recent heavy rains revealing a number of significant leaks.
“The town was told by the location manager (of the film) that the facility has great potential to be a permanent rental facility to the movie industry,” Ethan Gorner, the town's chief administrative officer told council.
“However, to keep this building as a potential film resource for the future some initial work is needed to better protect it from the elements. It will eventually need a new roof along with some other construction for the long-term in accordance with whatever council in future decides to use it for.”
Council passed a motion approving the weather proofing work for up to $15,000 to be funded through the economic development reserve and that the future use of the resource be referred to the strategic planning process in the fall of 2022.
“More strategic visioning about the use of the building will be done by council during its strategic planning, however in the immediate short time, some initial sealing work to the roof as well as some weather proofing to the shell will need to be done for it to be available for such future consideration,” he said.
Filming of Under the Banner of Heaven brought in approximately $600,000 to the local economy, he said.
