DUNNVILLE—A Dunnville resident’s spur-of-the-moment idea could soon put the community in front of a national television audience.
Lindsay Wilson launched the Reel It In Dunnville campaign to bring HGTV’s Home Town Takeover to town. The network recently opened casting for the show’s first-ever Canadian edition, and Wilson jumped at the opportunity.
“I saw HGTV posting on Instagram and thought, ‘I love this little town. Why not throw our hat into the ring?’” said Wilson. “A week later I got an email saying we’d been selected for round two, which is now a video submission.”
Wilson, who moved to Dunnville seven years ago after a long career as a 911 operator, said the town’s sense of calm and community spirit have been a source of healing for her after being diagnosed with PTSD.
“Coming home and living out here … has been beyond helpful and beyond healing,” she said. “Everybody helps each other out. Something about this town just stuck with me.”
To create the second-round submission, Wilson enlisted the help of local firefighter and community volunteer Geoff Eady and videographer Declan Love. Together, they coordinated days of filming that included stops at local businesses, interviews with residents, and a crowd gathering in front of Muddy the Mudcat last week.
“Lindsay called me and said, ‘I’ve done something crazy and I need help,’” said Eady. “She knows I’m very involved in the community and I used to work in the film business, so she brought me in. It’s really about bringing people together for something positive.”
The team encouraged residents to show up in uniforms or community shirts to represent clubs and organizations. Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley offered her support for the project, along with local Legion members and other groups.
The filming day drew smiles, cheers, and plenty of hometown pride.
“We’re about to shoot live with Declan doing his thing,” Eady can be heard saying on the recording, rallying the crowd in front of the iconic Muddy statue. “We’re super excited this is happening – one more time, everybody say hi!”
Home Town Takeover began in Laurel, Mississippi, hosted by HGTV stars Ben and Erin Napier, who transformed their own small town through home and business renovations that revitalized the community. The success of the original series led to additional seasons that took on other towns in need of a boost.
The Canadian version will follow the same premise, selecting one community for a full-scale revitalization that could include storefront makeovers, new public spaces, and infrastructure improvements – all aimed at restoring civic pride and encouraging tourism.
“They started in Laurel, Mississippi, and then went to another town that had this beautiful river running through it,” said Wilson. “I thought, well, we’ve got a beautiful river too – let’s take advantage and show the eco-tourism we have here.”
For Wilson, the show represents both a symbolic and practical opportunity: “We could use a whole new paint job uptown, do proper signage for people, help those who really put Dunnville first,” she suggested.
Her vision includes creating new community spaces – such as an outdoor music venue or a revamped splash park – and expanding the use of Dunnville’s waterfront for family events. She noted that longtime residents often share stories of concerts once held along the river, where people anchored boats and listened from the water.
“I’ve been here seven years and other than the Santa Claus parade or Mudcat Festival, you just don’t see much going on, especially free events for the community,” she said. “Let’s use the waterfront to its full capacity and bring that energy back.”
Wilson hopes Home Town Takeover can help Dunnville rediscover that vibrancy. But even if HGTV doesn’t choose the town, she sees lasting value in the campaign.
“This video gives us a platform to keep pushing for improvements,” she said. “I’m not doing this for myself or my own home. I want this for our community – for everyone that lives here.”
The Reel It In Dunnville team is now waiting to hear back from HGTV after submitting their video.
For Wilson, the process alone has been a reminder of what makes the town special.
“We’ve got a big heart, and we’re a unique little spot,” she said. “We’ve got a beautiful river and Muddy the Mudcat – hopefully we’re successful. It would be really neat to see how far we can go with this.”
Residents can share ideas or ask questions by emailing reelitin.dunnville@gmail.com.
