Paper Wheat

The epic story of the opening of the Canadian West and the drought that brought the Depression in the thirties. This is the saga of a family who left eastern Canada to stake their future in the Prairies. Principle roles are played by Frances Hyland and James Douglas.

In 1909, a dapper young remittance man is sent from England to Alberta to attempt ranching. However, his affection for badminton, bird watching and liquor leaves him little time for wrangling cattle. It soon becomes clear that nothing in his refined upbringing has prepared him for the harsh conditions of the New World. This animated short is about the beauty of the prairie, the pang of being homesick and the folly of living dangerously out of context.

The promise of riches in a new land lured many settlers to the West, but it was a harsh climate where shelter was the most urgent necessity. A House on the Prairie describes the legacy of these early days: environmentally unsuitable dwellings that now either devour money and fuel to remain functional, or slowly disintegrate in the sun, wind and frost. People today are beginning to recognize the importance of housing suitable to specific environments, and some of these new examples of western Canadian architecture are presented, with comments by designers, builders, and the people who live in the somewhat experimental dwellings.