Film crew takes over Edmonton International Airport

Edmonton International Airport is now the set of a reality TV show.

A Toronto-based film crew will be at the airport for the next three months working on a series called Ultimate Airport, Edmonton. They plan to show the inner workings of the airport.

Edmonton's harsh winters are part of the reason the city's airport was chosen, according to Heather Hamilton, EIA's director of public affairs.

"Our staff actually don't think what they do is interesting - it's very routine for them," she said.

"And of course some of the things happening at an airport are really interesting, and there are really great accomplishments that are happening in teams in differrent areas."

Passengers' stories will also be featured in the series. Anyone with an EIA tale to tell can volunteer to be part of the show.

"There are a lot of great people stories that come through," Hamilton said.

During the holiday rush, she often takes a break to watch families being reunited in the arrivals area. "You don't know what their story is, but you know how happy they are so it's wonderful to be a part of that," she said.  

Signs are set up throughout the airport to inform passengers of the film crew, and that the series will be "broadcast around the world in all media." 

They also warn that passengers who enter a "filming zone" acknowledge their "irrevocable and unconditional consent to being filmed and recorded for use in the series."

All public areas of the airport qualify as potential filming zones, according to Hamilton. Some passengers say they're worried that means they might not be able to avoid the film crew.

"The mere act of being in the airport to get a bag or to go to a flight has nothing to do with agreeing to be photographed for the purpose of making money," said passenger Kevin Kimmis, who plans to use the airport for holiday flights.

"Quite frankly no person should be subject to the waiver of their rights," he said.

But Hamilton, who noted the airport is a not-for-profit organization, said no one's rights are being waived.

"We're not secretly filming people," she said, adding anyone uncomfortable with being on camera should simply avoid an area if they notice the film crew.

While Kimmis argues the airport is overreaching its authority, not everyone is as concerned.

"I was a little bit worried about me walking by and having an awful face on," said Ellie Smith, another EIA passenger.

"But social media is insane here, so what does it matter? It's probably going to be on the internet at some point."