Brewery doc screening at PHAHS AGM

A documentary film about the genesis of Creemore Springs Brewery will be shown at the Purple Hills Arts and Heritage Society’s AGM on April 9.

Creemore Springs: The Inside Story created by Aiken Scherberger has only been screened for the public once before. The 2016 documentary was commissioned by Creemore Springs Brewery as a record of its roots, said Scherberger.

It chronicles the brewery’s founder John Wiggins’ professional path to Creemore and how his decision to start a brewery led to the revitalization of the village.

John and Silvia Wiggins were weekenders until becoming full-time Creemore residents in 1980, when John set up his advertising, design and marketing business in the building that currently houses part of the brewery.

Suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, Wiggins was looking for a career change and looked to craft brewing, before it was trendy.

The film is about the key players in the early days of brewing.

“I think that people in the area would be interested… not a lot of people know all the details about the brewery and the video, I think would help,” said Scherberger.

The film explores the mutually beneficial relationship that developed between the brewery and the village, said Scherberger.

The brewery is credited with giving new life to Creemore’s main street. It was Wiggins’ idea to exclusively use hanging wooden signs.

The Purple Hills Arts and Heritage Society’s annual general meeting is at Station on the Green in Creemore at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 9. The film screening will follow at 2:30 p.m. Station on the Green is located at 10 Caroline St. E.

Scherberger and Wiggins will be in attendance.

Image: A heritage plaque created in partnership with Purple Hills Arts and Heritage Society and Creemore Springs Brewery commemorating John Wiggins – “The man who put our village on the map”.