POWASSAN — Visitors coming into town for the long weekend could be excused for being a might confused about what province they were in, or even what part of Canada.

Powassan’s farmers market lot proudly displayed a sign welcoming everyone to Halworth, B.C.

It’s all part of the growing filming industry that is embracing this area of northern Ontario.

Just outside town, a local livestock farmer has had an area at the back of his property turned into a full-sized western village, and filming for a television show is expected to call the lot home for several years, depending on ratings.

“These opportunities were not here a few years ago. Whoever thought they would come and film movies or a TV series in Powassan.” Peter McIsaac

“Those buildings have all been built up to code and a road has been put in to the lot by a local contractor,” said Mayor Peter McIsaac. “It’s a major commitment by the production company, but just one of the filming projects currently underway in the municipality.”

Shooting was also taking place last week on a farm in Chisholm Township and at the Powassan post office.

McIsaac says the increase in camera crews and filing locations in the area is a direct result of the regional efforts put forth from North Bay, as it focuses on increasing economic development through movie and TV production.

“We work with North Bay, and if the set is looking for something specific and North Bay doesn’t have it they send the scouts to us. We’ve been fortunate in that what North Bay doesn’t have, rural countryside, farms, small town atmosphere and buildings, we have it,” he said.

David Anselmo of Hideaway Pictures, estimates that of the 100 or more people working on the set, 75 per cent are local residents. Hideaway Pictures is the production company responsible for the new frontier town, which will be the set of When Hope Calls, a spinoff of the popular television show When Calls the Heart.

Filming on this project is expected to continue throughout the summer, and the company is looking at a five-year run.