'Wrong on so many levels': Lytton residents react to corporate video filmed in town's fire ruins
A number of Lytton residents, both current and former, are voicing their anger over a corporate video that was filmed in the town’s fire ruins.
“It’s pretty horrifying; for all of us here, it’s really triggering,” said current resident Meghan Fandrich.
Tricia Thorpe lives about three miles south of the village and said: “They’re talking about walking on sunshine; it’s more like walking through an open grave site there right now.”
The video was made by Calgary-based ATCO to celebrate the company’s 75th anniversary.
“For over 75 years, we’ve been where the world needs us,” the caption reads.
The video uses a cover of the song “Walking on Sunshine” and follows two young girls going to plant a tree. Part of their journey was filmed through the village of Lytton, in front of and through fire rubble.
“It was appalling, it was insensitive, it was re-traumatizing,” said Michele Fiest. “The choice of music, given that the town was destroyed by a heat dome, was particularly galling.”
Feist lost her home in last year’s deadly blaze and now lives in Williams Lake.
“I fled for my life from that place. I was lucky … we were all lucky to survive that fire,” she said. “There’s just so many levels that (the video) is really offensive.”
The video was posted on the company’s website and social media feeds Wednesday, with one commenter on Twitter saying: “As a person who grew up in #Lytton, this video really upset me.”
In response, the company wrote: “The story is entirely fictional, and a portion of this video was filmed in Lytton, B.C., where a wildfire devastated the town in 2021. ATCO has been working with the town to provide meaningful support for their recovery and rebuilding.”
“Somebody trying to take advantage of somebody’s tragedy in chase of the almighty dollar is wrong on so many levels,” said Thorpe.
The video was raised at the BC legislature during question period Thursday, with Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth asked how a private company could film a commercial before the residents have been allowed to return to their homes.
“This was a decision made by the council of Lytton,” Farnworth said. “It is not something that I would have done. Council makes these decisions. They don’t have to come to the province. I find it quite mind-boggling.”
Lytton Mayor Jan Polderman tells CTV News that ATCO was given approval by council to film the commercial, with the shoot lasting “a day and a half” at the beginning of April.
Polderman said the company originally offered a “very generous” donation of $50,000 and a trailer, but believes that figure has since been doubled.
“It could well be $100,000,” Polderman said, adding he hasn’t yet seen the cheque.
All residents CTV News spoke with say they want the video taken down, and an apology from both ATCO and the mayor.
Polderman is standing by the decision.
“I thought that the ad was very tastefully done; it brings emotions up,” he said, adding that’s he’s trying to move the town forward while still rebuilding.
“The opportunities for the village to raise funds that we can spend without approval with other levels of government are not that frequent,” Polderman said. “This money will be used in the rebuild of Lytton for the benefit of residents.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.