Federal Government Announces Support for Digital Media Industry

Winnipeg, Manitoba – Western Economic Diversification Canada

Today, Joyce Bateman, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced an investment to benefit the conventional linear and interactive digital media in Western Canada.

Federal funding of $3,893,765 to On Screen Manitoba over a three-year period, through the Western Diversification Program (WDP), will support trade and investment initiatives for Manitoba’s conventional linear, television and film, and interactive digital media, gaming and apps, industries. In addition, the investment will enable multi-regional co-ordination to support trade and market access of prairie small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to international markets. On Screen Manitoba will also establish an industry-driven Transmedia Lab, which will support testing, research and development, and the commercialization of transmedia products.

“This industry project, led by On Screen Manitoba and enriched through a partnership with New Media Manitoba, will facilitate emerging business opportunities nationally and internationally for Manitoba’s linear and interactive digital media production companies, as well as provide business development support for companies based in Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia (French language production only),” said Nicole Matiation, Executive Director, On Screen Manitoba. “It will place Manitoba and Western Canada on the world map as a region that is actively engaged in enhancing innovation, digital technology and the cultural industries as key drivers of the knowledge economy.”