Applause erupts, and red ribbon falls away as a highly anticipated movie studio in Niverville is officially opened, with a big thanks to a local coffee shop owner.
"Juliette (Hagopian) is my sponsor mother. She sponsored me in 2003, April 16, to Canada from Ethiopia," says Henok Negash, who founded Negash Coffee in Niverville and now self distributes a new coffee brand called Queen Sheba Coffee Roasters.
He's referring to the founder of Julijette Inc., who is responsible for the development of Jette Studios at the corner of Wallace Road and Provincial Road 311.
"She's been here in my life, and she's been supporting me in everything I do," Negash says.
He says the film producer has been helping him navigate Canada, and says they haven't had a single Christmas without seeing each other, and call for at least two hours a week throughout the year.
She truly does feel like his mom, he says, and played a role in helping open his coffee shop in 2018.
"When I opened it, she was telling me, 'The town is good. You will be successful,'" Negash says. "She saw how the town came through, and the town support. She saw how it went and I told her this is the best place, knowing the people around the town.
The community's support left quite an impact on Hagopian.
"When he came to Niverville, everyone here just supported him, and wanted to get behind him and help him with his business," she says.
Negash first found out Hagopian wanted to bring a movie studio to the area about four years ago. "I was like, 'Hey, you know where you should come? Niverville is where you belong.'"
So, she came, and while she has many people to thank for helping her build the studio, she says among the most important is Negash.
"Thank you, Henok, for inviting to Niverville, and for introducing me to all these people who have made a difference," she says.
For Negash, it just makes sense that she brought her new movie studio here.
"I raised my kids here. I'm very blessed to be in this town, and again, I'm very blessed to bring my mom here," he says.
A dream coming true for the Town of Niverville
For Niverville's mayor, Myron Dyck, the grand opening marks a very special day — the beginning of dreams coming true.
"I have spent time thinking and even daydreaming about the potential of what this studio will mean for others," Dyck says. "I think about those who will work here, and do a job they love to do.
"I dream about what businesses may come here and what this streetscape outside along the highway would look like with businesses potentially lining both sides," he says.
"I dream about the patrons that will work and shop at those businesses. I dream about the houses that will be built and the people that will love on these adjoining lands to the studio that we're grateful to share," he says.
"I dream about having the performing arts and other trades and support services to the film industry taught at our high school as a part of their education... and that one day a high school graduate would walk across the stage and receive an award for achieving the highest marks i the field of film and supporting trades."
Dyck went on to thank Hagopian and others who have coordinated to start taking these dreams and make them a possibility.
"Thank you for believing Niverville is a place where you belong."
Former Niverville mayor, Gordon Daman, says there is a vision to create a campus setting where the studio is built, including a space for staff to live, and having some integrated components like carpentry.
At the centre of it all, he says, is the people of Niverville.
"What's really important when we're looking at this story... is to truly understand it takes a community to build community. We can never forget that," Daman says.
He notes that it should be empowering to know what can be accomplished when different people join together.
Written with files from Corny Rempel