• History is being made every day, they say, and that seems particularly true in Kipling of late.

As recorders of history, it is a challenge to keep up; to sift rumour from truth, fiction from fact, in this time in the town’s history when stories intertwine and developments overlap. It’s a bit like living in a novel.

First, there was the red paper clip trade; then tourists started to arrive. Announcements made at the housewarming party at 503 Main St. turned thoughts to movie-making and suddenly there seemed to be hope that Kipling would not always be seen as the “sleepy little Prairie town in the heart of canola country” (to paraphrase a TV network take on the situation) which we have never thought of ourselves as being, in any case.

Adding fuel to the fire which has thus far warmed our winter was the arrival among us of strangers from the east, bearing gifts. The filming of a commercial here, for European television, fills yet another page in this chapter of our history.

The common thread running through all of this is Kyle MacDonald, with whom the Town traded a house for a movie role, and upon whose exploits the Spanish television commercial is to be based.

The question now arises: how far are we willing to take this “thing”?

However lengthy or brief the community’s association with Kyle and his family turns out to be, there is merit in documenting it in a way that can be shared. Yes, there are newspaper articles and, yes, there are websites, but there could be more.

It is quite apparent that the whole unlikely story has captured the imaginations of many the world over and there is promise that Kipling can benefit from that well into the future. The Town has pledged to build a huge red paper clip which will become a landmark; a trademark of sorts, and almost certainly a tourist attraction. We trust that is proceeding on schedule.

But when the camera-toting throng arrives, will we be ready? Will we make it easy for them to simply take pictures of the paper clip and then line up Momma and the kids and the dog on the step at 503 Main Street for one last snapshot and then move on? Or will we have something more of interest for them to see and do?

What we need is a kind of “value-added” tourism experience.

We have plenty to offer - swimming, golf, skating and you name it - but can we make them want to spend some time here and enjoy it?

The aforementioned now being a part of our history (albeit recent), it would be fitting to create a display in the museum about it. Tourist and townsfolk alike could relive Kyle’s trades, learn about how the big paper clip was made (if it is being documented), follow the progress of Kipling Film Productions, and so on . . . you get the picture.

Yes, people 50 years from now will be interested, but so will those who pass through next summer. It would serve to increase traffic at the museum as well as enhancing the Kipling tourism experience.

Perhaps the Volkswagen people would consent to having the commercial available for viewing, along with still photos of its production, perhaps a few outtakes, and, oh, I know . . . a Volkswagen Polo on display! Why not?

by Michael G. Kearns