Game On Film History Tour
Movie Central: A Self-Guided Film History Tour of Maple Ridge’s Downtown Core
Introductions!
Hey, glad you’re here! Nice to meet ya’! You’re probably tuning in because you’re looking for a self-guided tour of some of downtown Maple Ridge’s top historical film spots, and if so, you’re in the right place. Or maybe you just like the sound of my soothing voice. Either way, let’s get started! I’ll meet you over by the cenotaph in Memorial Peace Park Spirit Square.
A word of acknowledgement that this tour incorporates historical research collected by the Maple Ridge Historical Society, and while it primarily addresses the history of European settlers in Maple Ridge, it’s essential to recognize that both the Katzie and Kwantlen’s history with this land spans thousands of years prior to European settlers’ arrival. We’d like to acknowledge that each of the stops on this film tour are located on the traditional, unceded territories of the Katzie and Kwantlen First Nations on which we are privileged to work, play, and share this land’s history.
Memorial Park Bandstand
Following the paved path east past the cenotaph, you’ll see the famous Memorial Peace Park Bandstand, a fully community-funded project spearheaded by trombonist Tom Walker of the Maple Ridge Concert Band who - after observing how bandstands across America, Europe, the UK were a focal point for bringing their citizens together - dreamt of creating such a keystone of community activity in Maple Ridge. With expansive fundraising efforts by donors like George Price of the Legion and thousands of volunteer hours donated by local residents, the Bandstand was completed in 1994 without using a single taxpayer dollar. It was installed just south of its current location (back when Memorial Peace Park had a pond instead of fountains!) and moved to where it’s found now as the focal point of the park in 2002. Brass plaques encircling its steps recognize the contributions to this unmistakably Maple Ridge piece. The Bandstand was gifted to the community by the Maple Ridge Concert Band for the enjoyment of all, including film crews! Crime thrillers like Tipline Mysteries and How to Murder Your Husband, Hallmarks like A Godwink Christmas and Color My World with Love, and TV dramas like Fire Country and Wild Cards have all used the Bandstand as a key set piece.
Follow the paved path to the plaza on the east side of the Bandstand and I’ll meet you there to talk more things film!
Memorial Peace Park & Film – A Location Scout’s Dream
Since 2006, Memorial Peace Park has been featured in over 150 productions, from award-winning independent films like One Day This Kid, Lawrence & Halloman, and Broken Diamonds with Ben Platt and Lola Kirk, to beloved TV series like Van Helsing, Creepshow, and Supernatural with the wonderful Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki, this park has seen it all.
If you were standing in this spot last summer, you may have seen 191 film workers on site shooting three separate action scenes for the season premiere of Tracker Season 3, including Justin Hartley speeding off in his car, sprinting through the park, and a dramatic stunt collision sequence at the intersection of the Haney Loop and Fraser Street. Tracker has earned its reputation in Maple Ridge as “the fast-paced” show, with the average turnaround from scouting to filming being only a matter of days. This bustling film day in Memorial Peace Park, including the closure of Fraser Street and Haney Place Loop where you stand, was coordinated and brought to camera in under a week! It brought economic stimuli to 31 businesses, generated an estimated $30,000 in direct economic impact, and means we’re all less than six degrees of separation from Justin Hartley too.
In fact, in 2025, Tracker’s dreamy protagonist would have travelled over 11,000 km in the “Tracker universe” but really travelled about only 40 km in Maple Ridge. Tracker spent 105 days prepping, shooting, and wrapping across the city to film 12 episodes in just one year.
And just when you thought the commotion in Memorial Peace Park couldn’t be topped last summer, another (very different) season premiere was shot just six days later for Fire Country Season 4, with so many American flags you’d think you were at the White House. One, which hung from a fire truck’s aerial ladder, was over 10 meters (or 32 feet) long. Tracker would then return to Memorial Peace Park eight days later for the second episode of Season 3. A bit over a month later in October, you would have been in for a spooky treat as the park was transformed into the anniversary festival of the Corkscrew Killer for Season 3 Episode 6 of Wild Cards.
This park is far from the only location in downtown Maple Ridge that’s played as a plethora of film sets, however. Let’s take a walk further east over to the plaza of the ACT Arts Centre & Theatre.
To your left is City Hall and the adjacent Maple Ridge Business Centre, hosts of over 100 productions like Supergirl, Beyond, The Murders, Painkiller Jane, Project Mc2, Benchwarmers 2, and I Killed Him in My Sleep (aka Don’t Fall Asleep) with Abigail Breslin. Libraries, police stations, urgent care facilities, lecture halls, and courtrooms have all been played right here.
Over in the Municipal Plaza between City Hall and the police station, productions have created university campuses, elaborate Christmas markets, school board offices, and moody courthouse courtyards, among many other sets. This is also the spot you’ll often find productions parking their work trucks and setting up their crafty tables full of endless snacks for cast and crew (coffee and Dad’s cookies are always a must)! Over 62 productions including The X-Files, Mech X-4, Christmas with the Singhs, and How to Lose a Popularity Contest with Chase Hudson and Sara Waisglass have all filmed in this perhaps unassuming but absolute gem of a film spot. The Municipal Plaza is also home to the world’s largest horse clock, the Beast, designed and built by Don Brayford - inventor, poet, and Electromechanical Operations Manager for the City for 22 years. Constructed with aluminum and recycled materials, and originally operating using the Commodore 64, the Beast was built to chime every hour before rearing onto its hind legs with a heavy breath of steam. Don created this hallmark of Maple Ridge as a representation of the wealth of natural beauty the city has to offer, and the cruciality of its preservation for future generations. A plaque made in the memory of Don and his wife, Sadie, can be found on the bench just south of the Beast.
What were Maple Ridgians’ thoughts on the Beast when it was first constructed? Check out their street interviews here!
Finally, looking to your right, you’ll see the great blue (previously red) brick of the Maple Ridge Leisure Centre and Greg Moore Youth Centre. Productions usually venture to these City locations for amenities including the basketball courts, gym, skate park, and pool, including The Troop, Toni Braxton’s He Wasn’t Man Enough with Yvette Nicole Brown, and Joy Ride with Ashley Park.
Before completely talking your ear off about this one film stop alone, though, let’s mosey on north through the Municipal Plaza and around the corner to the right toward the entrance of Maple Ridge Florist.
As you stroll south past the landmarks and businesses rooted in such rich history and featured in so many stories, some of which may even be your favourite comfort films or binge-worthy shows, I hope you feel some of the magic (dare I even say, “movie magic”) so many filmmakers have felt as they stepped foot here too.
Thank you for joining me on this little look into some of the conventional and film history of Maple Ridge’s downtown core, and I look forward to meeting up with you again for more self-guided film shenanigans. This is only one small quadrant of Maple Ridge, after all – just imagine what goes on beyond. And if you’re looking to learn more in the meantime, check out “Filming in Maple Ridge (For Everyone)” on our website or pop on into the Economic Development Office at City Hall – we're always happy to chat all things film😊 See ya’ soon!
