FORTUNE, N.L.
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
Fans of the CBC Show “Still Standing” in the town of Fortune will have an opportunity to see what goes on behind the scenes as filming is set to begin in the town in early October.
Hosted by Newfoundland-born actor/comedian Jonny Harris each weekly episode features a Canadian town that’s faced challenges, but survived with a collective “do or die” attitude.
Mayor Charles Penwell said being featured on Still Standing will bring positive publicity for the town.
“It’s national coverage about our town — our connection with St. Pierre and Miquelon,” he said. “So hopefully it leads to increased tourism to the Burin Peninsula, Fortune and St. Pierre.”
He said there is a bit of a buzz in the air about the show, but thinks it will start to build as crews begin arriving in the community during the first week in October.
Penwell told The Southern Gazette the show’s producers first contacted the town in the Spring, around May.
The town was notified about a month and a half ago that they were chosen for an episode.
“One of their producers has been here and interviewed people—been around town,” added the mayor.
Why Fortune?
Anne Francis, executive producer of “Still Standing”, said that the town met the show’s criteria.
In addition to pure logistics — travel, food and accommodations – Francis said, “The rest is story and Fortune has a great story.
“The decline of the fishery and the closure of the fish plant hit Fortune hard. People have to go away to work, kids go away to school and don’t come back.
“Fortune has had its struggles, which is what we typically look for in a town. But the fact that Fortune is the Gateway to Saint Pierre and Miquelon was really what got our attention. Not a lot of Canadians know that you can take a quick ferry over to France. We thought that would be a fun story to tell.”
Filming will begin in the town on Oct. 4 and will conclude on Oct. 10. The climax to the week will be a two-hour comedy show at the Fortune Lion’s Club, featuring Jonny Harris and with performances by Fraser Young, Graham Chittenden and Steve Dylan. Doors open 6 p.m. and the show starts at 6:30 p.m.
The Fortune, NL episode will air in 2019 on CBC.
