Bowmanville is in the spotlight as Oprah Winfrey show prepares for Sunday debut, at 8 p.m. I will share the whole story after the premier, and behind the scenes photo's for the first time.
Published on Friday January 04, 2013
The reality spotlight has shone on booze-soaked Jersey Shore parties, Donald Trump’s boardrooms and the world of Honey Boo Boo.
Now, it’s Bowmanville’s turn.
Months after television trucks rolled into town with cameramen and producers in tow, the unassuming community of 43,000 people about an hour’s drive east of Toronto will find itself thrust into the national spotlight this weekend with the second season debut of “Million Dollar Neighbourhood.”
The reality show, set to premiere on the Oprah Winfrey Network (Canada) at 8 p.m. Sunday, follows 100 families over a 10-week period as they battle in weekly, money-saving challenges and work together to raise the community’s net worth by $1 million.
Over the course of 10 episodes, families will open their homes and balance books to financial experts, working through tears, heated spats and team-building moments in a bid to straighten out their personal finances and improve their communal lot.
“I liken it to sort of a major disaster. (The show) seriously brought us together,” said Michelle Kimmerly, a 30-year-old photographer whose young family was among the 100 featured.
A lakeside community once supported by heavy industry, financial hardship has become a familiar theme in Bowmanville with workers across the region laid off from their jobs in years since the recession.
“There are some common and unique challenges in Bowmanville,” said Preet Banerjee, a former financial adviser who co-hosts the show. “Many of the families here have struggled with losing a breadwinner in the house, losing their jobs.” Many, he added, face mounting credit card debt.
Julie Cooper’s family is among them.
About three months before “Million Dollar Neighbourhood” was filmed, the 32-year-old’s husband was diagnosed with brain cancer. He passed away three weeks later, leaving Cooper — an underemployed teacher with a 2-year-old son named Sam — devastated and struggling to make ends meet.
Saddled with more than $50,000 worth of student and credit card debt, Cooper said she saw the show as a chance to learn more about how to become financially healthier. With the chance of winning $10,000 a week, she also saw it as an opportunity to better provide for her son.
“It’s certainly uncomfortable for people to know how much debt you’re in and having the cameras follow you around is not a great part. It was definitely emotionally draining,” Cooper said. “But it was an opportunity for us to improve our situation.”
Less than a year later, Cooper and other Bowmanville families credit both the show and their neighbours for helping to pull them out of the hole.
Kimmerly, who gave birth to her second child while producers were still filming the show last August, said her family was in “medium debt” when they decided to participate in the show early last year.
Realizing they spent a “shocking” $400 a month on fast food, Kimmerly said her family cut back on “impulse buys” and stopped using credit cards. But the help of other residents also helped improve the family’s finances. One friend, for example, offered to dye and style Kimmerly’s hair in exchange for a photo shoot instead of money.
While the show’s producers cannot reveal whether Bowmanville achieved its $1-million goal, residents say they’ve only gained from the television crew invading their homes and streets for a summer.
“People are still offering to help each other out of the goodness of their hearts,” said Kimmerly. “It has turned us in to a giant family.”
Tips to improve your finances
1. Budget. Track your spending on small daily items, such as coffee and fast food. It adds up.
2. Cut back on credit card use. If you don’t have the money, don’t spend it.
3. Reinvent yourself. Look for ways to cut back your spending, such as mortgage options or renegotiating phone rates, etc.
Niamh Scallan
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