The worlds largest red paper clip!

Tuesday, Mayor Pat Jackson forwarded the offer, prepared by Economic Development Coordinator Bert Roach, to Kyle’s website (a “blogsite” actually), where it was posted Wednesday.

Roach said Kyle is intrigued by the offer and promises to give it every consideration.
In a telephone interview, Kyle told The Citizen that he will definitely be checking out the offer.

“A consideration is that any trade must be mutually beneficial,” he said, speaking from Los Angeles.

The Kipling offer proposes to either raffle the movie role, or to hold auditions for it at some future date. Proceeds would be divided between a charity of Kyle’s choosing and the Kipling Parks and Recreation program.

In the event of its acceptance, a suitable way to display the world’s largest red paper clip would have to be worked out.

It might look pretty good attached to or along side the elevator, don’t you think?

Council backing red paper clip bid

Filed Friday, June 23, 2006

The Town of Kipling appears ready to sweeten the pot in order to board the Kyle MacDonald bandwagon.

MacDonald is the young Montreal entrepreneur who, for nearly a year now, has been “trading up” for goods and services in his quest to own a house.

As reported last week, MacDonald, who began by swapping a red paperclip for a fish pen; the pen for a doorknob; the doorknob for a camping stove, and so on, is now offering a speaking role in an upcoming movie, “Donna On Demand”.

Kipling’s original offer for the role included commissioning construction of the world’s biggest red paper clip, along with many other incentives such as a residential lot and the position of Mayor for a Day (see The Citizen, Friday, June 16, Pages 1-2).

Monday, Town Council met yet again to consider Operation Red Paper Clip and approved a substantial budget to pursue a trade with MacDonald.

An offer to purchase a home for MacDonald, thus completing his trading sequence, was approved by Council subject to his acceptance of such a transaction.

Community Development Officer Bert Roach has been in contact with the young fellow and is optimistic that an agreement can be reached.

It is envisioned that auditions could be held for the movie role in conjunction with a celebration in Kipling to mark the trade.

In any case, the community has gained widespread publicity since its offer was posted on MacDonald’s www.oneredpaperclip.com website, along with a link to the Town’s website. The site has received nearly 1,000 “hits” since that time.

Roach said he envisions much more in the way of positive publicity being generated by such a trade.

Major news services have been following MacDonald’s progress with much interest.

Council also considered other business at its meeting Monday.

These included approval of the sale of the grasshopper mower and authorization of special occasion permits to Kipling District Health Foundation for events on June 30 and July 1.

Red Paper Clip Trade Puts Kipling on World Map!

Filed Friday, July 14, 2006

The Town of Kipling took to the world stage Wednesday as it welcomed its newest citizens, Kyle MacDonald and Dominique Dupuis.

MacDonald is the young entrepreneur who, one year ago to the day, took the bold and unlikely step of offering to trade a single red paper clip for something somewhat more valuable and vowed to keep on “trading up”, until he got a house.

The offer was made on the worldwide web at his blogsite, Kyle’s blog site.

Since then, the world has been waiting and watching.

The 26-year-old Montrealer first swapped the paper clip for a fish-shaped pen; the pen for a doorknob; the doorknob for a camping stove, and so on, and most recently had been offering a speaking role in an upcoming movie, “Donna On Demand”.

Last week, MacDonald announced that of the hundreds of offers he had received in exchange for the role, he would accept that made by the Town of Kipling. He would trade the movie role for a house - thus fulfilling the goal he had originally set for himself.

Wednesday, television news crews from CTV, Global News, the CBC and a German television network, RTL, along with media types from Regina radio stations and The Leader-Post (and The Citizen, of course), along with an estimated 400 of the curious, descended upon a two-storey, 1920’s style house at 503 Main Street in Kipling to witness the trade. A network news source said they had received requests from at least one American news network as well as one from Japan, for footage of the event.

In near-30-degree heat, and following an hour-long ceremony hosted by Bert Roach, the Town’s economic development officer, MacDonald and Kipling Mayor Pat Jackson put ink to paper to make the trade official. RCMP Sgt. Gord Stewart, in red serge, served as witness. The town’s newest citizens, Kyle and Dominique (Dom), then invited all into their new house, to partake of cake and refreshments. The Kipling Lions Club later held a barbecue in the yard to close out the celebration. For now.

Auditions for the movie role are tentatively set for the Labour Day weekend, at which time Kyle has invited the world to what he believes will be Saskatchewan’s biggest ever housewarming party. And if you think nobody has been paying attention, think again. Between July 12 of 2005 and last Wednesday, July 5, 2006, oneredpaperclip.com had been visited just over 3 million times by people the world over. At time of writing, that number was more than 5.6 million; a staggering 2.6 million visits in one week!

All along, Kyle has been as interested in what he dubbed the “Fun-tential” of his quest as in any financial gain that might arise from it. He has been the guest on numerous talk shows and the subject of many more; has travelled to various spots in North America to make his trades, and has made many new friends along the way. One of these, it appears, is actor Corbin Bernsen, who will direct the movie in which the role, now property of the Town, is in. Kyle revealed Wednesday that Bernsen will indeed be in Kipling for the auditions and that he has hinted there may be more than one role awarded.

In anticipation of the Labour Day events and the publicity being gained from the Town’s involvement in MacDonald’s quest, Roach coined a phrase to describe the days and weeks ahead: “Saskatche-Fun”.

Not to be outdone, MacDonald announced the launch of his newest website, 503mainstreet.com in celebration of the occasion.

In addition to the house, the couple was presented a “key to the town”. It had been fashioned by Town Foreman Kelly Kish, who also created a 12-foot-long paper clip as a decoration for the ceremony. They were also made honorary lifetime citizens of Kipling. Along with that was $200 in Kipling Kash, presented by Chamber of Commerce President Kevin Hassler, a welcoming package (which is available to all new residents) and a number of goodies including a $150 gift certificate from Toth’s Pharmasave. There will be more. To mark the anniversary of the trade, on July 12, 2007, Kipling will unveil The World’s Largest Red Paper Clip which will stand as a lasting tribute to Kyle’s quest and to the exchange.

Among the dignitaries on hand to welcome Kyle and Dom were Ed Komarnicki, MP for Souris-Moose Mountain, and Don Toth, MLA for Moosomin Constituency. Both commended the young man for his imagination and determination and Kipling for its initiative in pursuing the trade. Greeting were also brought from neighbouring Kennedy by Clair Dorrance, who made note that the village is home to recording artist Eli Barsi and two-time Olympic Gold Medallist Colleen Sostorics. Dorrance gave Kyle and Dominique passes to next weekend’s Moose Mountain Pro Rodeo.

At times, both Kyle and Dom appeared almost overcome with emotion as they found themselves the subjects of the outpouring of goodwill. Though most recently residents of Montreal, both grew up in small towns; he in British Columbia, she in Quebec. Kyle noted that the Kipling location is roughly halfway between their hometowns both in distance and in population (Belcarra, B.C., pop. 700; St.-Alexis-des-monts, Que., pop. 2,000+). Kyle’s parents, Ian and Colleen MacDonald, also made the journey from Vancouver to take part in Wednesday’s ceremony.

Kyle also said he has many more ideas, all with fun-tential. So stay tuned for even more Saskatche-fun to be initiated by Kipling newest citizen!