Canada-Saskatchewan Soundstage
Encyclopedia
The Canada Saskatchewan Production Studios are located in Regina
, Saskatchewan
at the corner of College Avenue and Broad Street. Built in 1913, the structure has served as a normal school
, military training facility, and fine arts building for the University of Regina
. It was internally gutted and reconstructed as a movie and television studio facility in 2002.
The studios are operated by the Saskatchewan Film and Video Development Corporation (SaskFilm) a non-profit corporation responsible for promoting the film industry in Saskatchewan.
style structure was designed by Regina architects Storey and Van Egmond
. Classes began in January 1914 as the building was still under construction; it was completed in 1915. Facilities in Saskatoon and Moose Jaw were opened in the 1920s to serve the demand from a growing population. The Normal School operated until 1940, when it was taken over by the Royal Canadian Air Force
. The facility was used for military training until the end of World War II
.
Following the war, declining enrolment forced the closure of Regina's normal school. Various provincial government departments used the building until 1959, when teacher training was moved from Moose Jaw to Regina. In 1964, the normal schools (referred to as "teachers' colleges" since 1953) were transferred to the University of Saskatchewan
and the building became part of the U of S Regina Campus. The building housed the Faculty of Education until a new facility was completed in 1969, at the new main campus
in the city's south end. From then it was used by the university's Department of Fine Arts from 1970 until new facilities at the main campus led to building's closure in 1997.
In the mid 1990s, the Government of Saskatchewan, the City of Regina and the Saskatchewan film industry went into partnership and redesigned the building. The building was gutted, leaving the north, east and part of the west walls, then rebuilt to become the Canada Saskatchewan Production Studios. Project management and design was done by Stantec Architecture
, and construction work was done by Dominion Construction. J.C. Kenyon Engineering, MacPherson Engineering and Ritenburg Associates also consulted on the project.
The building is approximately 82000 square feet (7,618 m²) with three separate sound stages, from 7,000 to 15000 square feet (1,393.5 m²). Carpentry, makeup, wardrobe, & other production facilities are also located on site. The sound stage connects to the CBC
Broadcasting Centre, allowing for easy access to their facilities and equipment.
Film and television productions that have used the facility include:
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
at the corner of College Avenue and Broad Street. Built in 1913, the structure has served as a normal school
Normal school
A normal school is a school created to train high school graduates to be teachers. Its purpose is to establish teaching standards or norms, hence its name...
, military training facility, and fine arts building for the University of Regina
University of Regina
The University of Regina is a public research university located in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Founded in 1911 as a private denominational high school of the Methodist Church of Canada, it began an association with the University of Saskatchewan as a junior college in 1925, and was disaffiliated...
. It was internally gutted and reconstructed as a movie and television studio facility in 2002.
The studios are operated by the Saskatchewan Film and Video Development Corporation (SaskFilm) a non-profit corporation responsible for promoting the film industry in Saskatchewan.
History
The Saskatchewan Normal School was a publicly funded provincial post-secondary institution for the training of teachers. Such training began in Regina as early as 1890. The first permanent home for was built in 1913 at the corner of College Avenue and Broad Street. The Collegiate GothicGothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
style structure was designed by Regina architects Storey and Van Egmond
Storey and Van Egmond
Storey and Van Egmond was an architectural partnership in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, that functioned from 1907 to 1924. Initially, the principals were Edgar M. Storey and William Gysbert Van Egmond .-Edgar M. Storey:...
. Classes began in January 1914 as the building was still under construction; it was completed in 1915. Facilities in Saskatoon and Moose Jaw were opened in the 1920s to serve the demand from a growing population. The Normal School operated until 1940, when it was taken over by the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
. The facility was used for military training until the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Following the war, declining enrolment forced the closure of Regina's normal school. Various provincial government departments used the building until 1959, when teacher training was moved from Moose Jaw to Regina. In 1964, the normal schools (referred to as "teachers' colleges" since 1953) were transferred to the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
and the building became part of the U of S Regina Campus. The building housed the Faculty of Education until a new facility was completed in 1969, at the new main campus
University of Regina
The University of Regina is a public research university located in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Founded in 1911 as a private denominational high school of the Methodist Church of Canada, it began an association with the University of Saskatchewan as a junior college in 1925, and was disaffiliated...
in the city's south end. From then it was used by the university's Department of Fine Arts from 1970 until new facilities at the main campus led to building's closure in 1997.
In the mid 1990s, the Government of Saskatchewan, the City of Regina and the Saskatchewan film industry went into partnership and redesigned the building. The building was gutted, leaving the north, east and part of the west walls, then rebuilt to become the Canada Saskatchewan Production Studios. Project management and design was done by Stantec Architecture
Stantec Inc.
Stantec Inc. is a Canadian professional services company and one of the leading firms in the design and consulting industry. Founded in 1954, Stantec provides planning, engineering, architecture, project management and other related services to its clients. It employs more than 10,000 people in...
, and construction work was done by Dominion Construction. J.C. Kenyon Engineering, MacPherson Engineering and Ritenburg Associates also consulted on the project.
Facility
The Canada Saskatchewan Production Studios have 4 sound stages which have the capacity to film feature length movies, television sitcoms or any other needs of the media industry.The building is approximately 82000 square feet (7,618 m²) with three separate sound stages, from 7,000 to 15000 square feet (1,393.5 m²). Carpentry, makeup, wardrobe, & other production facilities are also located on site. The sound stage connects to the CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
Broadcasting Centre, allowing for easy access to their facilities and equipment.
Film and television productions that have used the facility include:
- Falling AngelsFalling Angels (film)Falling Angels is a 2003 independent film by Scott Smith, based on the novel of the same name by Barbara Gowdy and adapted for the screen by poet and author Esta Spalding. It is the second feature film by Scott Smith, writer, producer and director of Rollercoaster...
(2003) - Corner GasCorner GasCorner Gas is a Canadian television sitcom created by Brent Butt. The series ran for six seasons from 2004 to 2009. Re-runs still air on CTV and The Comedy Network in Canada; it formerly aired on WGN America in the United States....
(2004–2009) - Beyond Corner Gas: Tales from Dog RiverCorner GasCorner Gas is a Canadian television sitcom created by Brent Butt. The series ran for six seasons from 2004 to 2009. Re-runs still air on CTV and The Comedy Network in Canada; it formerly aired on WGN America in the United States....
(2005) - TidelandTideland (film)Tideland is a 2005 British-Canadian fantasy thriller film co-written and directed by Terry Gilliam, an adaptation of Mitch Cullin's novel of the same name. The film was shot in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, and surrounding area in the fall and winter of 2004...
(2005) - SabbaticalSabbatical (TV series)Sabbatical is a 2007 CTV television movie, which was filmed in August 2007, as a pilot, and aired on 23 November 2007.The film, follows Patrick Marlowe , his paleontologist wife Dr...
(2007) - The Messengers (2007)
- How I Married My High School CrushHow I Married My High School CrushHow I Married My High School Crush is a Lifetime Movie which aired on July 1, 2007, it stars Katee Sackhoff and Kim Poirier. Its working titles included 'Be Careful What You Wish For' and 'Once Upon a Dream'.-Story:...
(2007) - SurveillanceSurveillance (2008 film)Surveillance is an independent thriller set in the Nebraska plains directed by Jennifer Lynch and starring Julia Ormond, Bill Pullman, Michael Ironside, and French Stewart. The film premiered out of competition and at a midnight slot at 2008 Cannes Film Festival...
(2007) - It's Been a GasCorner GasCorner Gas is a Canadian television sitcom created by Brent Butt. The series ran for six seasons from 2004 to 2009. Re-runs still air on CTV and The Comedy Network in Canada; it formerly aired on WGN America in the United States....
(2009) - Dolan's CadillacDolan's Cadillac (film)Dolan's Cadillac is a 2009 thriller starring Wes Bentley, Christian Slater and Emmanuelle Vaugier. It is based on a short story of the same name by Stephen King.-Plot:...
(2009) - Walled InWalled InWalled In is a 2009 horror-thriller starring Mischa Barton. The film is based on the best-selling French novel Les Emmurés by Serge Brussolo . It is the English-language debut of critically acclaimed French director Gilles Paquet-Brenner. The film was shot in Saskatchewan, Canada.-Plot:Sam Walczak...
(2009) - InSecurityInSecurityInSecurity is a Canadian action comedy television series. The series focuses on a team of spycatchers set at the fictional Canadian National Intelligence and Security Agency . The series is set in Ottawa but filmed primarily in Regina...
(2010)