The Zelmans were up bright and early July 4 as their jet boat left the Riverfront Park’s public boat launch at 7:30 a.m. to take part in the province’s #TakeItToTheLake campaign.
The campaign, organized by ZenSeekers, was put on in partnership with Athabasca County, the Municipal District of Bonnyville, Lac La Biche County, the Town of Vermilion, Travel Alberta as well as experienced local operators in each area.
One operator in the Athabasca region, Grand Rapids Wilderness Adventure, is run by Darcy and Shirley Zelman, who provided the jet boat needed for the Athabasca portion of the campaign.
“We’re here to showcase Athabasca and the wonderful scenery that we have,” Shirley Zelman said.
Athabasca County’s tourism and economic development officer Rachael Dragun said the campaign’s goal is to highlight the different activities in rural communities across Alberta.
“The campaign first began a few years ago, but this is the first time Athabasca County has ever been approached to participate,” Dragun said. “The first campaign happened in Bonnyville during a trial run.”
She brought the idea to the Tourism and Economic Development Committee in the spring after talking to an official in the M.D. of Bonnyville.
“The committee then approved the idea,” Dragun said.
Photographer Jeremy Derksen and cinematographer Brandon Boucher were filming the Athabasca portion of the project on behalf of Seekers Media.
“We got out and did some jet boating, and then stopped and did some fishing,” Boucher said. “#TakeItToTheLake is a really cool marketing campaign to get people in the out-of-doors and onto the water.”
The Athabasca River was the last filming location of the campaign, which had been rescheduled on four different occasions due to poor weather conditions.
“The date we were originally set to take part was June 10 or 11,” Dragun said.
(L-R) Shirley Zelman, Sheena Garton, Brandon Boucher, Glenda Gray, Jeremy Derksen, Rachael Dragun and Darcy Zelman boarded a boat and took pictures and videos along the Athabasca River July 4 for their “Take It to the Lake” campaign.
The main models for the July 4 event were local teacher Sheena Garton and Aspen View Public School’s wellness co-ordinator Glenda Gray.
Garton said she was hesitant at first to get onto the river due to its high water levels and the fear of logs striking the boat.
“I got up today convinced I wouldn’t get on the water,” she said.
The shoot began at the boat launch, and then stopped at the Riverside Recreation Park Campground for lunch. It also continued slightly east to a fishing spot before getting off the water. The boat dashed under the Highway 813 bridge several times as a drone captured aerial shots.
The shoot continued on land into the Town of Athabasca at Paddymelon Gifts, Espresso & Eatery and ended outside of the Old Brick School.
Dragun said the video and photographs from the shoot will be featured at www.visitathabasca.ca during the week of July 15.
