News

$2.5 Million Investment in Local Film and Television

Funding will promote economic development in North Bay

NORTH BAY – Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing, has announced that the Ontario government is providing $2.5 million through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) to support five film and television projects in North Bay. This investment will help create jobs, attract talent and boost economic growth in Northern Ontario.

“Our government is committed to making targeted investments in growing and emerging sectors, such as the North’s film and television sector,” said Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing. “Today’s funding is helping solidify the North’s reputation as a first-rate production centre in North America and the world.”

The following projects are receiving funding:

• $500,000 for Shaftsbury Rex V Inc, to bring two episodes of Citytv’s original series “Hudson & Rex” to the North Bay area. The special episodes will feature the beloved crime-solving canine Rex, on an exciting new adventure in Northern Ontario. 
• $500,000 for CBTB Productions Inc for a film called Christmas By The Book, shot in and around North Bay
• $500,000 for Devils Breath Films Ontario Inc for a film called Devil’s Breath, shot in and around North Bay
• $500,000 for Hanger 18 Night Media Inc for a film called Junction Row
• $500,000 for Purgatory Jack Productions to produce the feature film Purgatory Jack

“Hudson & Rex audiences will be delighted to find Rex on a new adventure in the North Bay area in this Season 5 two-part special. Funding from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund made this opportunity possible. This is the third time that Shaftesbury has received NOHFC funding, which previously included Slasher 1 and Summit. We look forward to returning to Northern Ontario, and in particular North Bay.” – Christina Jennings, Chairman and President, Shaftesbury.

“The support of NOHFC for Film & television Industry in Northern Ontario is unparalleled and in many instances becomes the key to unlocking of complicated financing structures of indie film productions. The availability of crew and support spaces up North has also grown tremendously in the past few years, which gives even more confidence for producers from Southern Ontario or foreign producers to come and shoot their projects in Northern Ontario,” said Pasha Patriki, Producer of Hanger 18 Media.

“I’d like to thank the province of Ontario for excepting our feature film Devils Breath as part of the NOHFC funding Program! Without this support from the NOHFC grant it would of been very difficult to lock all of our moving parts in place, we are very grateful for this opportunity and I’m looking forward to starting our First day of Principal Of Photography this coming April 25th,” said Steve Brazil, Director and Lead Producer of Devils Breath Films Ontario Inc.

“The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund has been instrumental in allowing our project to go from concept to reality. Having the NOHFC’s support was the key to unlocking the myriad pieces needed to get our feature film and running and to say the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund was critical to our success would be a severe understatement,” said Jason Butler, Producer of Purgatory Jack Productions.

“The support from NOHFC provided a vital contribution to the production of Christmas by the Book. The program was a terrific incentive for us to explore filming in the northern community of North Bay and area, where we were impressed by the natural beauty of the locations, exceptional crew and hospitality.” – Carolyn McMaster, Producer, CBTB Productions Inc.

The NOHFC promotes economic prosperity across Northern Ontario by providing financial assistance to projects—big and small, rural and urban—that stimulate growth, job creation and skills development. Since June 2018, the NOHFC has invested more than $519 million in 4,496 projects in Northern Ontario, leveraging more than $1.77 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 7,000 jobs.

Quick Facts

• In 2021, the Ontario government launched new and improved NOHFC programs that support more projects in rural northern communities and make it easier for more people and businesses to apply. The programs target existing and emerging markets, provide more work opportunities for Indigenous people and address the skilled labour shortage in the North.

Additional Resources

• The NOHFC, Northern Development Offices and Small Business Enterprise Centres are available to support northern communities, businesses and other stakeholders in identifying economic development opportunities and assist in accessing government funding programs.