A Still Standing “Watch Party” will be held at the Annesley United Church in Markdale on February 15, 2023. The community will gather in the beautiful and spacious 116-year-old historic Markdale landmark to watch the popular CBC-TV show on a big screen. This particular episode of Still Standing will feature the town of Markdale and is set to broadcast at 8:00 pm.
The episode was shot last summer when a production crew of approximately a dozen or so Frantic Films staff descended upon Markdale to interview local business and community leaders.
Since first airing in 2015, Still Standing has visited almost 100 small towns in Canada. In this episode, host Jonny Harris will showcase several community and business champions who are working hard to help the town return to its previous glory.
Former PJ Knickerbockers store owner Pam Petch begins the episode in a conversation with Jonny, setting up the premise of a town on the ropes. "Forget Still Standing. (Markdale) was more like 'barely standing'," she jokes as she describes the loss of many manufacturing employers over the years as well as what used to be a major tourism draw for visitors to the area — Talisman Mountain Resort.
In 2009, a devastating fire broke out that quite literally melted Markdale’s massive ice cream factory. Thanks to a complete rebuild of the town’s major employer and the influx of COVID-era newcomers from the city, Markdale isn’t just reclaiming the glory it once had, it’s making itself into a community that’s more vibrant than it was even before the fire.
The evening is hosted by SouthGrey.ca in collaboration with Annesley.Events. Production is aided by Leaking Ambience Studio. Doors open at 6:30 pm with a pre-show starting at 7:00 pm. Refreshments, desserts and popcorn are supplied by Susan’s Deli. Everyone is welcome. Admission is free but donations are greatly appreciated.
The “Watch Party” is expected to be a popular event, so seating is limited. Visit https://annesley.events/ to register your attendance in advance. The Annesley United Church is at 82 Toronto St S, Markdale.
source: media release
