Whitehorse – The Yukon’s screen media industry, including film, television and online media, brings significant benefits to people and communities in the territory, such as skilled employment, economic growth, cultural enrichment, and increased visibility on a national and global scale. Businesses and organizations that bring the territory’s stories, cultures and landscapes to the screen are drivers of the Yukon’s economy.
Dr Brendan Hanley, MP for the Yukon, on behalf of Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, PrairiesCan and CanNor, announced that the Government of Canada is investing in two projects, totaling more than $645,000, that will strengthen the Yukon’s screen media industry.
More than $620,000 will assist Screen Production Yukon Association (SPYA) to increase its capacity and deliver on key priorities in the report Yukon Screen-based Production Sector: A Roadmap for Growth 2022-2027. This includes providing industry-specific training, delivering a new northern screen industry conference, opening a new studio space, attracting more local productions, along with purchasing gear and updating its website and branding.
Shot in the Dark Productions received $25,000 to provide professional puppetry training to help Northerners acquire the skills needed to work on the company’s new made-in-the-Yukon children’s television series called Northern Tails.
In 2023-24 the Government of Yukon increased funding to SPYA in response to the Roadmap. This amounted to approximately $160,000 last fiscal year to help achieve its key priorities. The Government of Yukon provided SPYA with $65,000 in 2022 for the creation of the Roadmap.
The Government of Yukon also supported Shot in the Dark Productions’ project by providing $22,000 for puppeteering training.
Through investments like these, the governments of Canada and Yukon are supporting the expansion and diversification of the Yukon’s screen media industry. Increased local productions will not only strengthen the Yukon’s economy, but also benefit other businesses and sectors and encourage future visitation to the territory.
“Our government supports the development of a vibrant and thriving screen media industry in the Yukon. Investing in this industry promotes cultural expression, technological innovation and community engagement, contributing to the overall prosperity and wellbeing of the territory. It offers direct economic benefits for the people who work on the productions and secondary benefits to many other industries, such as catering, accommodations and transportation.” – Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, PrairiesCan and CanNor