North Bay seeing the benefit of film and tv

Film and television is becoming an important industry to North Bay.

Mayor Al McDonald says the city saw a healthy contribution out of the $1.5-billion dollars the industry spent in Ontario last year, according to the province.

He says they don’t have a specific number but there’s lots of infrastructure, sets and jobs being created in the community.

McDonald adds this gives residents in northern Ontario a chance to work in the film and television industry in their own backyard.

He says “you talk about retaining our youth, the film industry is a great way to be able to train our youth at Canadore College and retain them in the north because of this critical industry in our community.”

He says they are looking at ways to continue bringing that industry here and adds the Invest North Bay Economic Development Corporation has a member dedicated to working on that specifically.