Film, television, digital media, music, magazine and book publishing sectors
urge government and industry to work together on a strategy to
prevent jobs – and talent – from leaving BC
Listen to CKNW Simi Sara – MReynolds on Launch Day
Vancouver, BC (April 26, 2012): If British Columbia’s creative industries are going to
reach their full job-creating potential in the competitive years ahead, they need the
creative equivalent and focus of the “Own the Podium” approach that earned Canada a
record number of medals at the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
A report commissioned by a coalition of the province’s creative industries says a strategic
approach to the future is needed – one that includes moving this $4 billion sector from the
margins to the mainstream of economic and policy thinking, something that’s key to
retaining British Columbia’s creative professionals, as well as their entrepreneurship and
job-creating potential. Without it, the province risks losing its best talent to places such as
Ontario and Quebec with their competitive tax credits, program funding and easier access
to investment capital.
The 35-page report, titled From the Margins to the Mainstream: Moving BC’s Creative
Industries Forward, points to Ontario, Quebec, Britain, Australia and Singapore as some
of the jurisdictions that are working with their creative industries to develop the sector’s
competitive potential. The report calls for a “public-private” partnership, a three-year
strategy aimed at growing the creative sector, and the creation of a BC Media
Development Corporation, similar to Ontario’s Media Development Corporation, as ways
to make BC more competitive.
“BC’s creative industries are at a turning point,” said Margaret Reynolds, Executive
Director, Association of Book Publishers of BC. “As a province, we need to recognize
the incredible potential and capacity of our creative sector, as well as their ability to
attract investment and produce jobs. At the same time, in this period of rapid
technological change, producers of creative content have to keep current, or risk falling
behind other jurisdictions. That means industry and government need to work even more
closely together to sharpen our competitive edge.”
Jurisdictions such as Britain recognize the potential of the creative industries for “wealth
and job creation through the generation and exploitation of intellectual property.” That
definition, and the incorporation of creative industries into the country’s overall
economic planning, gives the sector stature alongside more traditional industries such as
manufacturing, natural resources, tourism and agriculture.
“In their recent Global Outlook report, PricewaterhouseCoopers recognized creative
industries as some of the world’s most dynamic sectors, with spending on entertainment
and media markets worth $1.5 trillion by 2015,” explained Liz Shorten, Managing Vice-
President, Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA).
“Here at home, creative industries employ more than a million Canadians, including
22,000 who work in BC’s gaming, wireless and mobile technology industries, and
another 20,000 in BC’s billion dollar film and television production industry. But in the
end, we’re no different than any other industry sector. If we’re not competitive, the work
will go somewhere else.”
“Clearly, BC has the talent,” noted Bob D’Eith, Executive Director, Music BC. “Our
talent has never been the issue. But, today we’re certainly at a competitive crossroad with
plenty of other jurisdictions eyeing our people. As a province we need industry and
government to continue to work in partnership. Together, we need to ramp up our
collective game, understanding that if we’re going to grow our creative industries, we
have to be granted the same kind of policy attention that mining, forestry, fishing and
agriculture receive.”
“Collectively, our individual creative sectors are both challenged and energized by the
opportunities in front of us,” added Sylvia Skene, Executive Director, Magazine
Association of BC. “BC’s universities, colleges and institutes are producing a strong and
creative talent base, and our ability to apply innovation to content development is leading
edge. However, to reach our full potential we need government and industry to work
hand-in-hand to ensure our economic potential and talent stays right here in British
Columbia.”
Media contact:
Trevor Pancoust
604.646.3567
tpancoust@pacegroup.com
BACKGROUND
About BC’s Creative Industries
The BC Producers’ Branch of the Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA) is
a non-profit trade organization that works on behalf of over 75 British Columbia
companies engaged in the production and distribution of television, feature film, and
digital media content. It promotes the general interests of its members municipally,
provincially, federally, and internationally; negotiates and manages labour agreements
with guilds and unions; and undertakes a variety of industry development initiatives to
build the capacity of BC based companies.
Music BC is a non-profit society dedicated to providing information, education, funding,
advocacy, awareness and networking opportunities to nurture, develop and promote the
spirit, growth, and sustainability of the BC Music community. Music BC is the only
provincial music association that serves all genres, all territories and all participants in the
industry from artists to managers, agents, broadcasters, recording studios, producers and
all other industry professionals.
The Magazine Association of BC (MABC) represents, connects and promotes the BC
magazine industry by uniting the talent, knowledge and skills of its publishers, editors,
writers, graphic artists, salespeople and others in the industry. BC magazines foster
award-winning talent and represent some of the best periodicals published in Canada.
MABC membership is made up of a wide variety of magazines, from small to large,
literary to lifestyle and leisure, arts and culture, news, business, and special interest
magazines.
The Association of Book Publishers of BC (ABPBC) is a provincial association of BCowned
and -controlled book publishing companies working to support the long-term
health and success of the Canadian-owned book industry in British Columbia. The
ABPBC believes a healthy BC book industry is essential to the educational, social,
cultural and economic life of the province. British Columbia’s publishers produce books
in all genres that engage and inform Canadian and international readers, young and old,
scholars and those who read for pleasure.
Impact of British Columbia’s Creative Industries
Book Publishing
British Columbia’s 70 plus book publishers produce over 1,200 titles a year in both print
and digital formats and generate over $150 million in sales. Canada’s largest Englishlanguage
publisher is based in BC along with important scholarly, children’s and
Canada’s first Aboriginal publisher. BC books win national and international awards and
are exported around the world.
Film and Television
Film and television production in BC boasts a world-class infrastructure, a large and
skilled workforce, and a geographic proximity to Los Angeles. The industry in BC
accounts for more than $1 billion in direct production spending for both foreign-service
production and domestic Canadian production. The sector employs approximately
20,000 people directly with an additional 15,000 indirect jobs. BC is home to one of
North America’s largest film and television sectors, along with Los Angeles, New York
and Ontario.
Digital Media
There are more than 1,300 companies in BC’s digital media sector, creating innovative
products in wireless and mobile, video gaming, animation and visual effects, web and
social media, interactive marketing and e-learning. The sector employs 22,000 people and
generates revenues of $3 billion a year, making it one of the most significant contributors
to BC’s creative economy.
Magazine Publishing
BC magazines foster award-winning talent and represent some of the best periodicals
published in Canada. BC is home to hundreds of homegrown publications, from small to
large, literary to lifestyle and leisure, arts and culture, news, opinion, business, and
special interest magazines, both in print and online. These titles represent the diverse
interests of British Columbians and are read by more than one million people around the
world.
Music and Sound Recording
BC music industry generates over $500 million in revenue per annum. Not only has BC
produced some of the world’s top acts including Bryan Adams, Diana Krall, Nelly
Furtado and Nickelback, it is also a hot bed for music production. Studios such as the
Warehouse and The Armory draw international acts and allow local acts access to world
class facilities. BC also has some of the world’s top industry leaders such as Nettwerk,
Bruce Allen Talent and SL Feldman & Associates.
