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Video presence to grow

“A picture,” observes Dale Barr, “is worth a thousand words.”By this standard, Central Alberta should soon be able to present a persuasive case for investment in the region.
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Dale Barr

“A picture,” observes Dale Barr, “is worth a thousand words.”

By this standard, Central Alberta should soon be able to present a persuasive case for investment in the region.

Barr is chair of the Central Alberta Economic Partnership, a regional economic development alliance with more than 40 municipal members.

Following CAEP’s annual general meeting in June, he described plans to develop promotional videos for member communities.

As of last week, 36 Central Alberta communities had committed to the project. Aug. 25 is the deadline to sign up.

“We’re very pleased with the amount of acceptance communities have had in this,” said Barr.

CAEP arranged for production through Red Deer company iMediaTV.ca, and is subsidizing the cost.

Production is already underway, with municipalities able to arrange for promotional videos ranging in length from about one minute to three minutes, said Barr.

“We’re leaving that up to the municipality, what they want to showcase.”

In the case of his own community of Rimbey, where Barr serves as mayor, arrangements were made for an annual vehicle racing event — the Rimbey 100-foot Side by Side Shootout — to be recorded.

Ultimately, all of the videos will be placed on the CAEP website, although the municipalities will also able to use them.

“They’re designed to enhance the CAEP website so that when we do get prospective investment companies looking at Central Alberta they can click on any municipality and get this video clip right away,” said Barr.

He anticipates that the videos will be available for public viewing next year.

“It depends on the kind of shots the community wants,” he said of the timelines. “If they want some winter shots, that production’s not going to happen until February or March.”

Additional information about the video project can be obtained by calling the CAEP office at 403-357-2237.

hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com