In a would-be NYPD station, the Ontario government made an announcement to support the film and television industry in the North Bay area by creating jobs and developing local talent.
“We have grown from $9 million to $23 million in just a year,” Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli said in the precinct. “It is very important that the Province of Ontario continues to invest in our film sector. It adds $3 billion to Ontario’s GDP, but most importantly it employs 50,000 men and women.”
The announcement from the government is an investment of $7 million, through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, to support seven film and television productions.
Investments include:
- $3 million to Sienna Films Inc. to produce the television series The Trickster
- $1.3 million to Peacock Alley Entertainment to produce the television series New Eden
- $908,360 to Tanner Beach Productions to produce the television series Sunshine Sketches Homecoming
- $500,000 to Christmas Basket Production Inc. to produce the television movie The Christmas Basket
- $500,000 to Hideaway Pictures to produce the television movie Crossword Mystery Season 2
- $500,000 to CastNorth Productions to produce the television movie Country at Heart
- $375,000 to 2569372 Ontario Inc. to produce the feature film Cold Strings
Now time to pull the carpet out, it wasn’t an NYPD precinct, but a set that was constructed in the North Bay Mall for the series, Crossword Mysteries. The show has been filming in the old Stitches location and the old Music City location downtown.
“If you are in the restaurant business, the hotel/motel business, you know that this is a game-changer for North Bay,” Fedeli stated. “Right now we have four productions underway.”
Fedeli credits North Bay City Council for making North Bay a go-to spot in the film industry.
“There is a mayor and council that wants to grow the city. When streets need to be closed, or other ordnances need to be changed, the city is there and I have heard that from the film sector that they are fully behind the film business. The neighbourhoods like having the film sector there.”
