Corner Gas Production Company: We're Not In The Tourism Business
Town of Rouleau upset over state of old sets
All is not well in Dog River.
Some residents in the small Saskatchewan community of Rouleau are upset because sets used on the television show Corner Gas have been boarded up and are overgrown with weeds since the comedy stopped production in 2008.
Rouleau Mayor Allan Kuhlman says the tourist draw is being reduced to shambles.
"People blame Rouleau," Kuhlman said. He says the town does what it can but says they have limited resources.
"I lay the blame squarely on the lap of the people who produce the show and if that includes CTV well so be it," Kuhlman said.
Virginia Thompson, the Executive Producer of the production company behind Corner Gas tells News Talk Radio the old set is a shared responsibility between her company and CTV.
She says the set was never designed with tourists in mind saying she is in the television industry not the tourism industry. Thompson contends that making the set tourist friendly would likely cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Thompson says even the upkeep on the old set is expensive and funds for maintenance are scarce.
Thompson says a fundraising plan in the works that would allow for upkeep of the property.
The set needs to be kept in working order because Thompson indicated she wants to film a Corner Gas movie at the location within the next year or two.
Comments
This is a prop, not a public tourist attraction
No disrespect to the people of Roleau intended, but like any production prop, it is a PROP that is the property of the production company, and not a tourist attraction for the town to lay claim to. I think they had a 'free ride' while the series was in production, provided the show was not shooting at the time. The set probably looked like that every year between seasonal shooting schedules. Roleau does not own any rights to the set. The land is private property, and so is the set that it hosts. I'm sure the land owner is being paid for the inconvience of 'storage', but that's all that the town is entitled to.
It's the equivalent of an old barn that's outgrown it's usefulness and the farmer builds a new one or puts up a quonset hut. We've all seen the eyesores they become in our highway travels, but it's not our concern.
If the series is 100% complete, the production company has the right to tear it down, and then the town will have nothing left to complain about. They are not 'owed' anything.
If the town and production company are willing to negotiate a property sale, they can do it with their own tax money, and spend more on the set's upkeep the same way. It's a lot of money to spend on a site that will, sadly, lose its appeal over time. It's not the Universal lot, and it's not the Bates Motel and house, folks.
Like it or not the prop has
Like it or not the prop has turned into a tourist attraction and the production companies were very aware of this during filming so should have treated it so as they created it, Rouleau did not. To be honest I can see the cities of Moose Jaw and Regina profitng more from this than the town as there is no accomidation available there.
If there is a concern about
If there is a concern about property maintenance, the town could clean it up and bill the property owners.
If the photo in the story is current, I don't see what the whining is all about.
Property
I think all parties involved should realize there is potential here for profit for the next couple years. If possible, clean the property up, stock it with souveniers including DVD's, shirts, hats, etc, etc. Sask tourism should probably kick some money in as well since it is a tourist destination. I'm sure something positive can come out of this!
On a negative note.... my wife and I stopped in town in mid June on a weekday around 9AM and were shocked to find out the store in the "Police Station" didn't open til 11AM. Come on Rouleau shopowners! We were willing to spend some money in your store but were turned away by a CLOSED sign..... sigh!!!
The shop was open from 10-5
The shop was open from 10-5 in early June and now is open from 9-5. It is a seasonal business and was still contending with cold weather. It is open 7 days a week and is a really neat for tourists to visit!The Police Dept will most likely not be open for business if CTV stocks the set with souvenirs and then all the mony can go to Toronto.
I think its the bar that does not open till 11.
Rouleau should be happy this
Rouleau should be happy this lasted as long as it did. If it is such a tourist attraction than maybe the businesses there that make money off of these tourists should throw 25% of what they make off of the tourists towards up keep etc. 75% is better than nothing.
Or better yet, complain.
That is such an old
That is such an old Saskatchewan attitude... "happy it lasted as long as it did."
Some of us are really proud of Corner Gas, love the show, and would love to have the set remain as a tourist attraction. Why can't Saskatchewan have anything cool???? It's exactly what we need! What else do we have that's interesting to people interested in entertainment, tv, and celebrities? Nothing! ..I agree with the poster who says there is money to be made here.
People need to clue in!
Thank you for making this
Thank you for making this comment. It is a cool thing and people want to see it as part of our heritage in the making. It is also important to set standards for our potential for arts and culture to develop into something great and have high regard with in our prairie communities.
All of the province profits
All of the province profits from tourist drawing to the area. Much merchandise is sold in Walmart, Zellers, Coops and smaller stores. Do you really think they are going to throw money at something that they dont own or have some say in, come on you obviously know nothing about business!
An idea...
Now I have an idea. Call me old fashion but how abouts we grab a lawn mower, and a weed eater. Take the weed eater and go around the edges of the buildings and stuff. Use the lawn mower to mow down the big stuff and bag it. How hard is that. Instead of talking and making a fuss, take action and do something.
I think that the point of
I think that the point of the matter is that there is no signs on the building to even get a photo oportunity. When it would only take a few hours to put them back up when they are sitting in storage somewhere- why wouldt they just leave the stuff for tourists that are coming from far and wide. Pretty unappreciative of their fans I would say!
Corner Gas - Rouleau
Hey, drive throught the town, there are more places than the Corner Gas set with overgrown grass and weeds and buildings in "shambles". How come council isn't whining about them to the media.
It more than the weeds! And
It more than the weeds! And if the media owned the other homes I am sure they would hear about it.
C'MON people
I can't believe that one of the previous threads was upset that the souvenir shop wasn't open at 9:00 am. Please, if you are going to make a trip out there maybe you should check the hours of operaton before you go!
I grew up in Rouleau and although it has been many years since I have lived there I always take great pride in telling people I am from there. Saskatchewan was so proud to have Corner Gas and now that it has stopped filming, no one cares anymore?? If they plan to film there again for a movie in 2 years maybe they should be taking better care of their property or they may find that the local properties that they used may not be so willing to allow them to use their locales again.
AS residents of Saskatchewan
AS residents of Saskatchewan we are all in the tourism business. Wake up, Verite Films was right in saying they are sleeping and the province of Sask that financial supported them will have to pay again for mismanagement!