High River Town Council has updated its film production rules, cutting the notice producers need to give from 45 days to just seven days before filming starts. The change was approved at the June 8, 2026 regular meeting and is meant to keep the community competitive in the fast-paced film industry while still giving town staff the power to turn down requests that do not fit.
Jocelyn Dunsmore, the town’s Community Development Liaison Officer, told council the old policy from 2017 was too slow for how productions work today. “The nature of the film industry is extremely fast-paced, and requests change frequently based on many variables,” she said.
Councillor Michael Nychyk raised concerns about whether residents would get enough warning when filming might disrupt their neighbourhoods. “I think that puts administration in the hot seat in terms of getting that communication out there and making sure the residents are OK with it,” he said. Under the new policy, town staff still have the final say on short-notice requests, which Dunsmore said acts as a safeguard.
Film productions pumped more than $1 million into High River’s local economy in 2025 alone, supporting restaurants, hotels, retailers, and property owners. The community’s long-running role as the fictional town of Hudson on CBC’s Heartland, which started filming there in 2007, has also drawn thousands of visitors. According to the Town of High River, Maggie’s Diner, the show’s downtown filming spot, is the single biggest reason tourists come to town.
The Museum of the Highwood, which runs the visitor information centre, recorded 18,000 visitors in 2019, with 6,000 of them coming specifically for Heartland attractions. In 2024, 14,000 visitors stopped by, showing the lasting pull of the show. Council’s move aims to make it easier for new productions to pick High River while protecting the community through the town’s ongoing oversight.
