This page is the official documentary webpage so check back often for updates and events. Follow us on Facebook at Mainprize: The Documentary!
August 22 Update: Approximately 40 people attended the world premier of Mainprize!
Attendee statements: “I really loved it. The cinematography was amazing, the music was perfect and the story was so impactful. It was so well done……awesome job, I loved it.”
“Congrats on your final Mainprize cut! Well done job!
“After viewing several different versions, this is the first time I had tears at the end!”
August 8 Update: We are proud to announce that Mainprize has been selected to show the movie in the Global Citizen Series category on Saturday, August 22, 2026 at 11:00 am.
June Update: Mainprize Documentary has been accepted as one of eight films considered for nomination in the Documentary Feature Film category at the Regina International Film Festival (RIFFA)
The Global Citizen Documentary Series explores what “citizenship” entails through film. Be it in the relationship between people and land, social contracts, environmental challenges, and the feeling of belonging, it showcases facets of society around Canada and the world.
(RIFFA statement & image)
I walked in knowing who Doc Mainprize was but I walked out really knowing who he was! Your documentary was fantastic!
Jo-Anne Lee, Premiere attendee (August 2, 2025)
In a small town in the middle of the Canadian prairies, the youngest person ever to graduate from the University of Toronto’s Medical program experiences a tragedy during a medical emergency that shakes him to the core and puts a community’s future legacy in jeopardy.
In a place where the smallest actions and quietest voices can make the biggest difference, one man unites them all to create a better tomorrow.
Mr. Jack Hilkewich , Midale, Saskatchewan
Red Carpet Premiere, Saturday August 2, 2025 at 10:00 am
The Premiere
Mainprize, the Documentary had a very successful red carpet event August 2 & 3 in Midale, Saskatchewan at the Midale Central School. There were four viewings in total on Saturday & Sunday to watch the extended ‘Director’s Cut’ of the film just for this weekends audience. This version is also available on YouTube.
The 10:00 am VIP event on Saturday was by invitation only for donors, crew and volunteers. There were approximately 130 in attendance. The 2nd show at 12:30 was open to the general public. Both events had a total of 280 people.
Below
Murray Kerr, Producer/Production Assistant/Executive Committee
Jack Hilkewich, Director/Producer/Writer/Editor/Research/ Executive Committee, P27 Films
Two Sunday shows at 12:30 & 5:00 pm brought in another 100 people for just under 400 people in total for the weekend.
After the weekend, the film will be edited to reduce time and content to tell the concise story of Dr. Mainprize, the environment, and community. The new version will be shown at various film festivals and find a steaming service to purchase the film.
The documentary was truly a grassroots project, funded entirely by private donations, no grants, no broadcasters, no government support. Nice to see the film launch after 14 years of hard work and dedication!
Great effort and a valuable history of the area and the significance of the contribution of Doc Mainprize and those around him.
Ric Witham, Premiere attendee (August 2, 2025)
Feature Articles and Interviews
1. Mainprize book raises $5,000 for Dr. Mainprize Park Foundation: Lois Feaver, DiscoverEstevan.com Thursday, Sep 17 2026
2. Mainprize Documentary Director Shares on Distribution Resulting from Film Festival Viewing,
Marna McManus, DiscoverWeyburn.com, Friday, Aug 28 2026
3. Mainprize Documentary Radio Interview – Jack Hilkewich interview, Evan Bray Show, CJME Saskatchewan, August 20, 2026.
4. Mainprize documentary to be shown at Regina Film Festival by SaskToday, August 18, 20262.
5. New Mainprize Monument Connects Visitors to Local History – Discover Estevan by Lois Feaver, Tuesday, August 18, 2026
6. Mainprize park set to unveil new Noah’s Ark, tribute to doctor – SaskToday by David Willberg by Aug 7, 2026
7. Community, legacy, connections: Author shares on ‘Remembering Mainprize’ book – Discover Weyburn – December 3rd, 2025 – Marna McManus
8A. Unveiling “Mainprize” at the Tommy Douglas Performing Arts Centre – Weyburn, Sk – Nov. 9, 2025
SaskToday – David Willberg
8B. Follow Up to November 9 Event: From community legend to global circuit: ‘Mainprize’ Filmmaker Shares Next Steps – Marna McManus, DiscoverWeyburn.com | Monday, Nov 24 2025
9. Documentary on Famed Sask Doctor to be Released after 14 Years of Work – July 27, 2025
10. Upcoming Book will Celebrate Cherished Doctor’s Life and Legacy – August 3, 2025
11. Discover Weyburn – Lois Feaver
A Celebration of Community: Midale hosts premiere of Mainprize Documentary – August 5, 2025
12. CBC Radio Regina – interview with Jack: August 4, 2025
13. 980 CJME (Saskatoon) – The Evan Bray Show (Tamara Cherry) – interview with Jack & Murray: August 5, 2025.
Our Amazing Team
The most important aspect to this documentary are the many, many people in front and behind the camera who made this film possible! Here is the complete list of people who contributed over the 14 years, Mainprize Credits. (may take a second to load)
Thank you to our donors and volunteers who believed we would deliver a theatre quality production to show at film festivals and someday, sell to a media company.
Book: Remembering Mainprize: The Legacy of a Country Doctor, his People and his Park
Book is written by author Mary-Lou Rosengren
The following are excepts are from Sasktoday article by David Willberg on August 3, 2005 entitled, Upcoming book will celebrate cherished doctor’s life and legacy
A new book on the life and service of Dr. William Graham Mainprize serves as a companion piece for the new documentary on the beloved Midale physician.
Remembering Mainprize: The Legacy of a Country Doctor, his People and his Park is expected to be released in the fall.
There has been excitement for the book already, thanks to the premiere in Midale of the new Mainprize documentary during the Saskatchewan Day long weekend. Mary-Lou had to do some research, but much of her time was spent compiling details, thanks to transcripts from the 77 people Jack interviewed.
The people who were interviewed play a central role in the book, she said. Rosengren said there will also be many photos supplied by the people Hilkewich filmed.
Update: The book went on sale March 2026 and sold out by June 18, 2026. Thank you for your support! Proceeds from the book will be donated to the Mainprize Park Foundation
Now Closed: Anyone interested in purchasing a copy of the book can email mlrosengren@outlook.com. She will need a name, and a contact email or phone number of the purchaser. She will let them know when books are available.
Documentary Project Executive Team
The volunteer Project Executive Committee:
Mr. Jack Hilkewich – Director, Producer (P27 Films) (Regina/Midale) *
Mr. Murray Kerr – Producer, Production Assistant (Camrose, AB/Midale) *
Mr. Dwyane Melcher, Producer, Melcher Studios (Regina)
Mr. Dallas Pederson – Executive Producer (Bromhead) *
Mr. Graham Barker – Executive Producer (Regina/Midale) *
The late Mr Joe Vilcu – (Midale) * (missing)
* Members delivered by Dr. Mainprize also known as a Doc Baby.
Five of the six executive members grew up in Midale & surrounding area and have firsthand knowledge of Dr. Mainprize. This dedicated group of volunteers coordinated all documentary project activities including, but not limited to fundraising, research, writing, interviews, marketing, press releases, web page, film production, radio interviews, book content, and monument design/production.
Murlo has a page that covered the making of the documentary (pre Premiere) at the Mainprize Documentary Page. There are also a few Mainprize videos located on our Murlo Discovery YouTube Channel.
This new documentary page will cover all activities from August 2025 onwards. See our Mainprize: The Documentary Recap (Director’s Cut Premiere) video on our channel!
Mainprize Park Foundation and Dr. Mainprize Regional Park
The non-profit Dr. Mainprize Park Foundation (Facebook) was established in the spring of 2024 to make significant capital improvements to Mainprize Regional Park. The Mainprize Documentary Project is a proud partner and supporter of the Foundation in their fundraising efforts. Please donate!
Discover Weyburn articles dated August 8, 2025, ‘A hidden gem’, Dr. Mainprize Foundation adds value to visitors, residents of regional park
A Little Star Power
Mr. Kim Coates, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan born & raised. This Hollywood actor with deep Saskatchewan roots supported the funding campaign in October 2021.
Kim graciously lent his voice to a paragraph we supplied in support of the documentary!
Jack Hilkewich, Director/Producer
