By all accounts, the television series Timber Kings has been a real success.
“We’ve been pretty much number one every night we’ve aired in Canada,” says Pioneer Log Homes general manager André Chevigny.
One the best things about the show, Chevigny said, is the fact it has raised the profile of Williams Lake and the whole Cariboo.
“Wherever I run into people, whether it’s Prince George even, they thank us for doing the show and tell us they can’t believe how much attention the area is getting.”
People tell Pioneer they get calls from family living in other parts of the country asking if they know “those guys” or have seen the work sites.
“The guys have been asked for photographs and autographs a number of times.”
Ever since the show began airing In January, Chevigny said he has received telephone calls from all over Canada telling him how great Williams Lake looks on the show.
“If you look at the pictures flashing across the screen, it shows how this is a stunning place to live,” Chevigny smiles. “The helicopter comes in, flies over the lake and above the trees near our building sites at Sugar Cane, or Soda Creek, it looks like a resort town and a place to come and holiday.”
Chevigny’s hoping the show will help make a difference in the community, especially for youth, by shining a positive light on Williams Lake.
Now that all 10 episodes have been shown, the network has started airing them again.
The show does have a bit of a danger and a bit of redneck antics, which Chevigny says must be working because it’s had its success.
It takes roughly four weeks or 125 hours of filming to make one episode, he explains.
When asked for a favourite moment he replies, “holy smokes.”
“I don’t think there’s been a favourite moment because it’s been so much fun with all the guys. There’s been so much camaraderie and we’ve had a lot of laughs.”
And the show has brought everyone closer together, he said.
“Because we’re working more intuitively with each other and also I think it’s made us appreciate our families more because there has been a lot of personal sacrifice to make this happen.”
Chevigny said many weekends and evenings were spent filming last summer after crews had gone home so there’s wasn’t the sound of chain saws interfering in the background.
Chevigny says around 120 people work for Pioneer Log Homes in the region.
Earlier this month, Pioneer Log Homes was named Business of the Year by the Williams Lake and District Chamber of Commerce during its Business Excellence Awards Gala.
HGTV representatives have also confirmed Timber Kings has been picked up for a second season.
