Local businesses are benefiting from the production of TV and online show Northern Rescue.
The Netflix, CBC co-production starring William Baldwin is filmed for the most part in Parry Sound, but the town’s name on the show is Turtle Island Bay. It is about a man who returns to the small town where he grew up following the death of his wife, to run a Search and Rescue centre.
While the exterior views very much feature the look and feel of the town, local businesses have opened their doors to be interior filming locations.
Michelle Deaust is the manager of Sail Parry Sound, a not for profit that teaches sailing to kids. The organization’s offices upstairs are what is known as a Standing Set for the show. On different production days the crew will come in and get the lights rigged and they will film anywhere from a few days to a time or like the most recent shoot, an overnight session.
“They shot through most of June when we weren’t there,” explains Deaust. “We don’t actually see them very much.”
In terms of the set upstairs they have pretty much used all of the sailing centre’s existing furniture as it fits in with the theme.
Deaust says they have not been able to do much stargazing,with the only celebrity sighting coming the other afternoon when William Baldwin was being delivered by limo to the set.
“We saw him for a second, that was about it,” she said with a laugh.
While she didn’t reveal how much the Parry Sound Sailing Centre was receiving to be part of the show, Deaust is very thankful for the opportunity as every bit counts when operating their programs.
“It’s been a fantastic experience and they have been very professional and it has been nothing but positive for us,” she said.