INNISFAIL - The final round of the Big Valley Jamboree Small Town Saturday Night contest is set to begin next week.
And Innisfail's entries were front and centre with filmmakers last month to prepare themselves for the contest finale.
Broadcasting students Ian Roland, Zenon Andryo and Delaney Gray from Mount Royal University in Calgary were assigned to produce the video as part of a class project alongside Big Valley Jamboree.
They were in town Feb. 20 and spent the entire day filming the video.
"They came down on Family Day. This was part of their curriculum, to complete a community project," said Russ Klemmer, member of the Innisfail Kinsmen Club.
The service club and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Prairies to Peaks are participating in the contest to help raise funds for Innisfail's proposed new skatepark and Big Brothers Big Sisters' mentoring programs.
The town finished in third place in the first round of voting in February. Each of the Top 10 finalists had a short two-minute video produced about its community.
The students filmed various segments around Innisfail and conducted short interviews highlighting the town and some of its features.
"We toured around Innisfail looking at the different sites and attractions that highlight what Innisfail is," said Klemmer. "That included the ski hill and the golf course. We also went to the historical village and the Discovery Wildlife centre," he added. "We saw the old skatepark and showed them what needed to be upgraded. We also had an opportunity to go to the top of the fire hall to (film) a panoramic view of Innisfail.
"It captured most of downtown and some of the outlying areas," he said.
Several local residents, including Innisfail mayor Brian Spiller, were asked a variety of questions about the town and the Small Town Saturday Night contest, including what musical influences are found in the community, noted Klemmer.
"I think Innisfail has quite a history of music," he said, noting the examples of the Ivan Daines Country Music Pick-nic and other musical talent from Innisfail. "We also have Devin Cooper who is a young up-and-coming (artist)."
Visitors to the Big Valley Jamboree website (www.bigvalleyjamboree.com) will have a chance to view all 10 videos and vote for their favourite. The voting period for the final round begins March 13 ends March 27.
The winner of The Small Town Saturday Night contest will host a concert by acclaimed country artist Gord Bamford on April 29.
"This is the main vote. In the first round of voting we needed to be in the Top 10, but now we need to be number 1 to win the grand prize," said Klemmer. "We need everybody and their friends to vote once a day for Innisfail at www.bigvalleyjamboree.com
Klemmer is confident the people of Innisfail will rally together and show their support.
"I know they'll do their best to help us succeed," he said. "If we are successful, the proceeds from that (concert) will go to two great causes - half will go to the Innisfail skatepark and half will go to Big Brothers Big Sisters for their mentoring programs."
See page 7 for story on donation from The Helping Hand Fund.
