Didsbury Mayor Rhonda Hunter (left) with President of Economic Developers Association of Canada president Penny Gardiner (left). Mayor Hunter travelled to Prince Edward Island to accept the award on behalf of the Mountain View Regional Film Office and its partner communities. The Mountain View Regional Film Office is Alberta’s first, and one of Canada’s first, rural film offices.


Mountain View Regional Film Office (MVRFO) Wins National Awards

October 5, 2023

Didsbury, Sundre, Mountain View County—The Town of Didsbury’s Mayor, Rhonda Hunter, was proud to accept two prestigious awards on behalf of the Mountain View Regional Film Office (MVRFO) recently.
The film industry is thriving in communities throughout Mountain View County, thanks in part to the MVRFO which is helping attract projects and business to the region—inviting film makers to make it reel big…in Mountain View. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed…the MVRFO was awarded two national awards from the Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC) at their annual conference and awards ceremonies on October 3, 2023 in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. EDAC is Canada’s national organization of economic developers, and their Marketing Canada Awards honour communities across Canada ‘who have succeeded in their marketing efforts—for all the right reasons.’

The MVRFO is a partnership between Mountain View County, the Town of Sundre, and the Town of Didsbury. “I was proud to accept the awards on behalf of all three communities,” said Mayor Hunter. “This is truly a shining example of how collaboration and cooperation between municipalities should work. The exposure we get from these unique, creative and innovative projects benefits the residents, businesses, and visitors in all our communities.”

Sundre Mayor, Richard Warnock, agrees. “The Mountain View Regional Film Office highlights the creative solutions that can be accomplished through regional collaboration,” he noted. EDAC saw that collaboration as award-worthy, and MVFRO won in the Community Collaboration category.

The second MVFRO Marketing Canada Award was presented in the Promotional Video category for the video, expertly created by local photographer/videographer Kai Mrazik, highlighting the benefits of filming in these communities. Mountain View County’s Reeve, Angela Aalbers, explained why the video is so successful. “The exposure generated by our unique and innovative projects benefit not only our residents and businesses, but also attracts visitors to our communities, presenting numerous opportunities for the film and tourism industries. We look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts and showcasing the beauty and potential of Mountain View County to a global audience,” she noted.

The winning submissions are highlighted on EDAC’s website, and the prestige associated with being recognized at a national level will, undoubtedly, translate to increased attention for the three communities and numerous opportunities for the filming and tourism industries in the area.

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