DIDSBURY - Town of Didsbury staff will be looking into options for the retention and/or disposal of film and TV show props used in productions in town and now held in storage by the municipality.
The town's council passed a motion instructing staff to do so at a recent, regularly-scheduled council meeting.
Didsbury has been the site of many film projects in recent years, including filming of the Wynonna Earp TV show and movies such as The Order and Let Him Go and the series Under the Banner of Heaven.
“Throughout the years, the town has acquired and accumulated variety of props from film producers that have visited and done business within the town limits,” said the town's chief administrative officer Ethan Gorner.
Many of the accumulated props were displayed during the Earptopia convention in town in October 2024.
“Beyond that, the props are not currently displayed for public viewing, though options for doing so have been explored,” he said.
The props include temporary signs, furniture, and various other items.
“Some of the props are certainly interesting and do save as reminder of the creative industry’s mark on the town. That being said, these props are designed and built as transitory assets and therefore are experiencing significant aesthetic and structural deterioration.”
Administration is seeking council’s input on the possibility of disposing or retaining the theatrical property.
“If council decides to dispose of the props it is recommended that this be referred to the Didsbury Economic Development Advisory Committee (DEDAC) for recommendation on disposal,” he said.
“If council desires to maintain ownership of any film props, it is recommended that this also be referred to the committee to consider options for utilization of the props and for recommendation to council.”
The DEDAC committee is made up councillors, members of the local chamber of commerce and appointed public members. The committee advising the town’s economic development officer on business and economic issues in the municipality.
Rather than referring the matter directly to DEDAC, council carried a motion referring the discussion of the future of the film props to the administration for review and recommendation back to council.
Administration could seek input from DEDAC as part of that review.
