Oprah Winfrey show begins filming in Bowmanville
CLARINGTON - Filming has begun in Bowmanville for the Oprah Winfrey show 'Million Dollar Neighbourhood'.
One hundred local families got word in early July that they had been selected by the television producers for the MDN community."I've lived in Bowmanville for 25 years -- off and on -- and there's people I've never seen before," said Greg Simpson, a MDNer. "The ability to come together as a community is really the hidden gem in all this."The show, produced by Vancouver-based Force Four Entertainment (The Cupcake Girls and Village on a Diet) for Ms. Winfrey's TV network, aims to help contestants save money over 10 weeks to increase their collective net worth by $1 million. Families in the show tackle their money problems with expert help."I have MS, I kind of went downhill the last little while and it hurt us financially," said Brian MacLaughlin, a show participant.The group has its first challenge on Saturday, July 21 at the Getting Out Of Debt (GOOD) yard sale.The families have been partnered to go through their belongings and give advice on what items to keep and which to sell."There will be entertainment, stuff to eat, child care and a lot of good people selling stuff at really good deals," said Mr. Simpson. The families are hoping to raise or save $1,000 each by the end of the week.The GOOD yard sale takes place Saturday, July 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Liberty Church, corner of Hwy. 2 and Regional Road 57 in Bowmanville.