Those who frequent the Gordon Head Recreation Centre may have been surprised to see the facility transformed into a hospital on Feb. 23 for the filming of a Netflix series.
On Tuesday, the Saanich recreation centre was closed to the public and temporarily rebranded as the Quimper Regional Hospital. This was to allow film crews to take over for the filming of Maid, a new 10-part series being shot in various locations across Greater Victoria.
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Signage and window decals turned the building at 4100 Lambrick Way into the entryway of a hospital. Since the fall of 2020, scenes for Maid have been filmed in various locations across the south Island including Royal Beach in Colwood, Cadboro-Gyro Park in Saanich, Helmcken Market in View Royal and the Pat Bay Highway.
The series is based on Stephanie Land’s bestselling memoir Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive, which details the experiences of a single mom who becomes a housekeeper.
Filming is expected to wrap in March.
The closure included the parking lots and the Gordon Head Lawn Bowling Club facility.
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Gordon Head Hospital?
Saanich’s Gordon Head Recreation Centre will be closed to the public all day on Tuesday, February 23 for filming of the new Netflix series Maid which has recently been filming in several locations across the Greater Victoria Region.https://t.co/2d65Pd4t8Z pic.twitter.com/sc0lMxwsKB
— District of Saanich (@saanich) February 23, 2021
Saanich’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department was excited to contribute space for the film production and noted that hosting the film crew would “help offset operating costs during the pandemic.”
The Gordon Head Recreation Centre reopened on Feb. 24. The facility’s current hours of operation – 6:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays – will be in place until Feb. 28. Waterfit and other fitness classes are suspended per current provincial health orders and masks are required in all public and common areas. The pool and weight room are accessible by reservation only.
Prop emergency vehicles outside the Gordon Head Recreation Centre on Feb. 23 as the facility transformed into the Quimper Regional Hospital for filming. (Greg Sutton/District of Saanich)
