By Chad Ingram

When CBC comedy series Still Standing films in Minden later this month, Minden Hills Councillor
Jennifer Hughey will take a paid contract position with the production, with the agreement that money
will be donated to the Minden Community Food Centre.

The series, which documents life in small towns across Canada, was initially scheduled to shoot in
Minden in July, but producers now plan to film during the week of Sept. 20, councillors heard during a
Sept. 10 online committee-of-the-whole meeting.

Hughey told her colleagues there was a “fixer” position, essentially a community co-ordinator position
available with the production, and that she’d like to take it, with the caveat she donate all the money to the Minden Community Food Centre.
“It is a CBC-sanctioned job,” Hughey said, asking councillors for their blessing, and explaining the
process would be managed with the oversight of township chief administrative officer and clerk Trisha McKibbin.

“I’m comfortable with Councillor Hughey proceeding as she has laid out,” said Councillor Bob Carter.
“I am as well,” said Councillor Jean Neville.

A resolution passed by council approved Hughey taking the job, “with the agreement that any monies
received will be donated to the Minden Community Food Centre, and further that all documentation of
payment be forwarded to the finance department as proof of payment and proof of donation to the Minden Community Food Centre.”

“I’m obviously declaring a conflict and will not be voting,” Hughey said, as council passed the resolution.

Council also granted approval for the show’s producers to proceed with the filming of a comedy segment
at the Minden fairgrounds. Episodes of Still Standing conclude with host and comedian Johnny Harris
doing a standup bit for members of the community he’s visited about his experience in their town.
Normally, these performances take place in a theatre or auditorium, and the public is invited to attend.
In the case of Minden, that comedy show will take place at the band shell at the fairgrounds, and only
those who’ve been involved in the filming, and their families, will be invited to attend, and will be seated in family bubbles in order to abide by COVID-19 safety protocols. The event will also be capped at 100
people, as per provincial regulations.