An ambitious fundraiser has been launched to help support a project that honours a doctor who was a big part of Midale area for decades.
Jack Hilkewich and Murray Kerr launched the campaign, which can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/mainprize-project and has a fundraising goal of $295,000.
The fundraiser will support a Saskatchewan feature-length documentary that follows the life of Dr. William Graham Mainprize.
The secondary goal is to establish a bursary named after Mainprize, offered in perpetuity by each of the three Saskatchewan postsecondary institutions.
Ninety per cent of the filming is complete. All financial gifts raised through the campaign will go towards postproduction work and the shooting of a few remaining key interviews.
In conjunction with the GoFundMe fundraising campaign, the project’s official website has launched.
The project shows how Mainprize went to great lengths to carry out his practice, but he didn’t do it all alone. He was the leader, but had a lot of people who worked alongside him to make sure he was able to serve the people of his community.
He spent more than 50 years in the Midale area.
“He was dedicated beyond what his profession called for. Doc would travel many long hours by horse, sleigh, or whatever he needed to see his patients. He would only get paid what the people could afford and that was usually very little and mostly resulted in some form of food,” states a bio on Mainprize.
Hilkewich, who is the producer and director, was delivered by Mainprize.
Kerr, who was born and raised in Midale, is the co-producer.
Mainprize’s name is attached to numerous amenities in the Midale area, including Mainprize Manor and Health Centre, and Mainprize Regional Park.
The next edition of the Mercury will have more on this story.
