The Ontario government is investing in $24 million in film and television projects in Northern Ontario through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC).
Sudbury MPP Glenn Thibeault made the announcement on May 4 on behalf of Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development and Mines.
Ontario is investing in film and television productions to create jobs and grow the northern economy.
Among the projects being invested in, New Metric Media is receiving $3 million for the production of season 2 of the TV series Bad Blood to be shot in and around Sudbury.
High Park Entertainment Inc. is receiving $3 million for the production of the Netflix TV series V Wars to be shot in and around Sudbury, North Bay and Sault Ste. Marie.
“These film and television productions are continuing to strengthen Sudbury and Northern Ontario’s growing film industry and creating new economic development opportunities in our region," said Thibeault.
"Also, I am thrilled to see an investment in Science North initiatives that continue to engage thousands of people in the North through its outreach science camp programs.”
The productions will be filmed in and around Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie and North Bay and will bring close to 100 jobs to the area during production. NOHFC investments for the film and television industry also support local hotels, restaurants and other businesses that serve the cast and crew during production in the North.
Ontario is also investing in a number of other projects in the Sudbury region, including:
Laurentian University to create a new learning centre and additional laboratory space
Science North for renovations and to install hubs in six communities across Northern Ontario that will have labs, exhibits and programming spaces.
"Investing in the northern economy is part of the government's plan to support care, create opportunity and make life more affordable during this period of rapid economic change," said a news release.
Since 2013, the province has invested more than $654 million through the NOHFC in over 4,000 projects, leveraging more than $2.3 billion in direct economic activity and creating or sustaining over 15,200 jobs in Northern Ontario. In the Greater Sudbury region, the NOHFC has invested more than $134 million in 793 projects that have helped create or retain more than 2,450 jobs since 2013.
Investments in other Sudbury area projects include:
- Science North is receiving $100,000 for a feasibility study on expanding operations in the Northwest, including offering science education experiences to all age and cultural groups, including Indigenous and Francophone residents in small communities.
- Science North is receiving $1 million to renovate half of the centre’s fourth floor in Sudbury, and to hubs in six communities across Northern Ontario which will have labs, exhibits, and programming spaces.
- Laurentian University is receiving $5 million for the Creation of the Research, Innovation and Engineering (RIE) Centre, expansion of the Fraser Building; and improved laboratory space within the Bharti School of Engineering.
- Millennium 1 Solutions is receiving $1 million to open a call centre that will mostly service Loblaw's Customer Loyalty Program.
- Rna Diagnostics Inc. is receiving $500,000 for a pilot demonstration of the RNA Disruption Assay (RDA), which provides doctors with an evaluation of how individual patients are responding to chemotherapy.
- The Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI) is receiving $1,862,501 to sustain their operations and help the organization develop a long-term sustainability model.
- Centis Tile and Terrazzo Inc. is receiving $663,500 to expand their flooring, tile and countertop manufacturing and installation business.
- Sudbury.com