A Saskatoon philanthropist is pumped to bring the Corner Gas movie to his city.
Bart Hunter has been revealed as the top contributor of $8,000 to host a private screening of the movie before it’s seen anywhere else.
The senior wealth adviser with Scotia McLeod made his contribution on the first day of the Kickstarter campaign.
“We thought it was a pretty good deal,” Hunter said.
True to his profession, he is buying low and selling high. The Nov. 24 screening, which takes place before the red carpet affair in Regina, will likely raise much more than it cost. It will be a charity event for the Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation and for local children’s charities through the Cindy and Bart Hunter Endowment Fund by way of the Saskatoon Community Foundation.
“We’re going to do everything we can to make it memorable,” Hunter said. “It will be a once-in-a-lifetime event.”
Hunter is a fan of Corner Gas but an even bigger fan of Saskatchewan. The Edmonton native has lived in Saskatoon since his hockey career ended in 1983.
“There’s some great Saskatchewan ties to this thing. What they did with the show when it was on the air was spectacular.”
Brent Butt, star and executive producer of Corner Gas, will attend the event.
“I think it’s pretty awesome that Saskatoon scooped up the world premiere screening. I always thought Saskatoon was cooler than Cannes, anyway,” Butt said in a release.
The Kickstarter campaign has doubled its goal of $100,000 and continues to June 18 with more rewards recently added, such as a personalized message from Eric Peterson, as Oscar, calling you a jackass. Fans from the United States, UK, Europe, Australia Oman, India, China and Kyrgyzstan have contributed to the campaign.
About Bart Hunter
Bart Hunter, 55, has been a member of the financial services industry since 1993. He is a director with ScotiaMcLeod and leads The Hunter Financial Group in Saskatoon. From 1975-83, he was a goaltender, beginning his hockey career with the Alberta Junior League and playing professionally with the St. Louis Blues and Washington Capitals. His father, Bill Hunter, was a founding member of the World Hockey Association, the Western Hockey League and the Edmonton Oilers. Hunter and his wife of 27 years, Cindy Hunter, president of Quantum Capital Corporation, are heavily involved in their local community. Hunter is a board member of Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation, past board member and chair of the Saskatoon Community Foundation, and past president and 25-year member of the Saskatoon Kinsmen Club, among others.