WINNIPEG — A new music video is highlighting prominent Winnipeggers while looking to educate and inspire the city’s youth.
Composer and director Danny Schur wrote the song “Made in Winnipeg” to accompany a documentary he made about goalie Terry Sawchuk.
Sawchuk was born in Manitoba’s capital and went on to win four Stanley Cups throughout his hockey career.
“I kind of envisioned the lyrics as if Terry Sawchuk, who passed away in 1970, was talking to us about what made him,” said Schur. “What made him is growing up in Winnipeg.
The lyrics are very simple. I was made in Winnipeg, how he played in Winnipeg, but more importantly, dreams don’t fade when they’re made in Winnipeg.”
It’s that last line that has been an important one for Schur; one he hopes will resonate with people.
“Let’s not pretend that Winnipeg is a perfect place,” he said. “But it’s a place where you can have a shot. Even if you’re a poor kid from the North End, you can dream and succeed in Winnipeg and I want to try to make that happen.”
The online video features 19 prominent Manitobans from the well known names of Terry Fox and Cindy Klassen to Olympic runner Joe Keeper and activist Nellie McClung.
The song has become Schur’s antithesis to The Weakerthans “One Great City” which spouts the group’s famous line… “I hate Winnipeg.”
“We tend to harp on the negatives as Winnipeggers,” he said. “But sometimes you just have to super celebrate the positives and that’s what this video is about.”
Schur and singer William Prince shot the video inside an empty Burton Cummings Theatre.
“I’ve always loved the city,” said Prince. “For a lot of people it really is a place to do more.”
Prince grew up two hours outside of Winnipeg on the Peguis First Nation reserve and moved to the city when he was 17-years-old to go to university.
“Winnipeg, as harsh as some people say it is, it’s always been this beacon of a hope for a lot of people I know,” said Prince. “One day I’ll move to the city, I’ll get an apartment, I’ll find a job there… something better will come. Something will turn around for me.”
Now the duo are hoping the Department of Education will use the video to inspire other Winnipeggers.
“Made in Winnipeg. Let’s make that our expression,” said Schur.
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