Council looks to attract film and TV production to city

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on July 26, 2023.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

Lethbridge city council is taking steps to attract more film and television production to the community.

Lethbridge city council on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve a request to help the community attract more film and television production.

Carly Kleisinger, Director of Community Services, made a presentation to council about exploring the city’s involvement in the film and television industry which was the focus of a lengthy debate at a recent Standing Policy Committee meeting.

A recommendation was made to council on Tuesday that it assign resources to start implementing recommendations made by creative consulting service Winged Whale Media.

Council on Tuesday was asked to allocate $ 319,505 from conditionally approved N-41 funding for one full-time film liaison term position that would be be created for 2.5 years, starting in mid 2024.

Council was also asked to allocate $461,064 from conditionally approved N-41 funding for one full-time position lasting a 3.3-year term for Economic Development Lethbridge for the updated scope and funding timeline for budget initiative N-41, Creative Industries Cluster. N-41 was part of last fall’s council budget deliberations.

According to Kleisinger’s report, the $780,570 is the amount that was conditionally approved in N-41 – pending further council direction.

The report says the Growing Creative Industries initiative aligns with municipal development plan vision for Lethbridge “as a city that should be vibrant, prosperous and a place where all people can participate in community life.”

The report adds the first step to make Lethbridge more film friendly would be the establishment of a film liasion and to provide funding to EDL through initiative N-41.

“Both positions identified in this report are required if the City would like to move forward with the film permitting process as recommended by WWM. A City employee is required to develop and coordinate the groundwork required and administer the Permitting process efficientlyand effectively. The external position with EDL would focus on external community relations, marketing, and attracting the film industry to come to Lethbridge,’ states the report.

Administration, based on recommendations from the consultant, isn’t suggesting that a film policy be established at this point in time.

The report says WWM’s research showed that “most municipalities just develop procedural documents that guide location filming within their boundaries.”

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