Mr. Speaker, I am sure that you and many members of this House will remember the popular 1950s radio broadcasts of W.O. Mitchell's award winning short stories "Jake and the Kid". The stories chronicled the adventures of the Kid, 11-year old Ben Osborne, in the fictitious prairie town of Crocus, Saskatchewan.
The story has been brought to life again in a 13-week television series filmed in my constituency of Wetaskiwin. Now in its second season, "Jake and the Kid" is wholesome family entertainment and a tribute to Alberta's growing film industry.
Albertans figure prominently in the cast, crew and writers. In fact, 90 per cent of the cast and all the extras are Albertans, including Ben's best friend and mentor, the hired hand Jake, played by hometown boy Shaun Johnston.
Sets depicting the Osborne family farm and mainstreet Crocus have been constructed on 160 acres of land in the district of Glenpark, Leduc County.
This exceptional Canadian production with its warmth, humour, intriguing plots and off-beat characters is proof that Alberta can soon lay claim to the title of Hollywood North.