This town looks like the set of a romantic movie. Now the mayor is trying to make that a reality | CBC News

Central Alberta On the left, the streets of Sylvan Lake at night, illuminated by twinkly lights. On the right, a photo of the Sylvan Lake lighthouse.(Lina Elsaadi/CBC News) Teresa Rilling has lived in Sylvan Lake for 11 years.(Lina Elsaadi/CBC) Meghan Hanson looks out the window of her office, decorated with her wedding photo in front of the lighthouse.(Lina Elsaadi/CBC) A variety of locations across town have holiday charm, like cafes with decor and fireplaces, the Sylvan Lake winter village, and a heart shaped sculpture one can attached locks to.(Lina Elsaadi/CBC) Mayor invites Hallmark to film in Alberta town residents call a real life romance set Letter sent to film company says ‘community is basically begging to be the backdrop of your next film’ Snowy streets, small town charm, and everyone knowing your name - for locals and visitors alike, calling Sylvan Lake a “Hallmark community” is commonplace. Mayor Megan Hanson is trying to take it from a cute description to reality by inviting the film company to shoot one of their renowned movies in the town, about 160 kilometers from Edmonton. “It's just a place where those kinds of romantic things happen,” she said. Much of the town wholeheartedly agrees with the idea, including resident Sean McIntyre. “Sylvan Lake is the authentic version of so many Hallmark storylines,” he said. “This is the place where people from the city come.” Whether it be skating under twinkle lights on the frozen lake, at the Gulls baseball stadium, or at the town’s effort for the world's longest pumpkin trail, the small municipality’s focus on aesthetic events for the community-minded residents could be a formula for success. The bakery lady The catalyst for the idea was former councillor and Hallmark devotee Teresa Rilling's ambition to be a bakery lady extra in a film. “I would meet with [film groups] to see what needed to be done to bring it to Sylvan Lake. I've been passionate about it for a long time,” she said. “The world needs to see the beauty of this beautiful community.” During her research, she found Sylvan Lake ticked many boxes of what a production crew would look for, including diversity of locations and the ability to film in different seasons. Hanson said, during one of many chats with Rilling on the subject, that she thought it was time to take action and have the town make a pitch to Hallmark. “What would it hurt to write a letter? I write letters in support of things all the time. What is one more? And this one, I think, is really neat.” Love by the lake The push to become a movie set isn't just about aesthetics. The community's warmth is what truly sets the scene for romance, according to local barista Mycah Feijen. “They'll actually start a conversation with you. They're all interested in who you are.” That kind of environment also breeds happily ever afters that aren’t scripted, but sound like they should be. “My husband proposed to me...

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