Creative Export Canada support helps Nova Scotia businesses expand globally

Press Release

From: Canadian Heritage

July 4, 2024

The Government of Canada is committed to helping Canadian creative businesses and organizations enhance their visibility and increase their exports in global markets. This benefits Canada’s economy and our creative professionals.

Today, Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament (Halifax) announced a $290,000 investment in seven creative Nova Scotia companies, as part of the first cohort of the Creative Export Canada program’s Export Development Stream. He made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage. This support will help Canadian companies and organizations grow their business and achieve financial success abroad.

Maritime Digital Art Design specializes in interactive digital media. It focuses on 3D visualization, multimedia, immersive and interactive media. The Export Development Stream is investing $90,000 to help the company publish two virtual reality games worldwide, created by its subsidiary Parcosm Studio. Dagger Woods VR: Echoes of the Lost, its main intellectual property, immerses players in a psychological thriller inspired by true Nova Scotia events and folklore in 1922. POI: VR Dance provides players with a meditative experience through momentum and dance and is designed to be relaxing and energizing.

The company’s plans include international distribution and participation in major gaming conferences to meet with key industry players. Despite being new to the export space, it aims to tap into the potential of the virtual reality market by exporting to countries such as the United States, Germany, France and China, known for strong gaming industries and enthusiastic player communities.

The Export Development Stream supports projects by Canadian businesses and organizations that are entering international markets and expanding their global networks. This includes support for creative businesses and organizations from equity-deserving communities, including Indigenous communities.

This Export Development Stream is also supporting six other Nova Scotia businesses:

• Atlantic Film Festival Association
• Atlantic Presenters Association Inc.
• Brass Door Productions Inc.
• Craft Alliance
• Lunenburg Doc Fest Association
• Moonshot Rights Inc.

See the attached backgrounder for details on these projects and the Creative Export Program funding support.

Quotes

“Expanding a business on the world stage can be challenging. That’s why Creative Export Canada helps companies and organizations meet the global demand for quality interactive digital media products. Maritime Digital Art Design demonstrates beautifully how Canada’s creativity and rich culture can be innovative and thrive in international markets.”

—The Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage

“By supporting homegrown talents from Nova Scotia’s interactive digital media, audiovisual, performing arts and artistic crafts sectors, we are showcasing some of our region’s best creative businesses in the international market. All these export development projects are important to Nova Scotia’s economic success and the province’s creative industries.”

— Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament (Halifax)

“We have more than a decade of experience in creating architectural visualization, design and immersive training simulations for the aerospace and defense industries across Canada. In 2021, we expanded our services to the gaming industry. We now have two games ready for global release. With the support of Creative Export Canada, our games are available in English, French, Spanish and Chinese on Meta, PC-VR and PS-VR platforms. This funding has allowed us to participate in Meta – US, Gamescom – Germany and Game Developers Conference – US. These events have provided us with the opportunity to showcase our work, network and build relationships with key industry players. As a result, we have seen significant financial and technological benefits, allowing us to establish our position as pioneers in the international VR gaming industry.”

— Sadegh Mahjoob, Managing Director/Senior Multimedia Specialist, Maritime Digital Art Design

Quick facts

• As part of the renewal of the Creative Export Strategy in April 2023, the Creative Export Canada program received $33 million over three years, from 2023 to 2026. The Export-Ready Stream invests $7 million per year in export-ready projects that generate export revenues and help Canadian creative industries reach more people around the world. The new Export Development Stream invests $4 million per year in new and early-stage exporters entering international markets and experienced exporters expanding their global networks.
• Since its launch in 2018, Creative Export Canada has invested $51.7 million in 117 export-ready projects under the Export-Ready Stream and $5.95 million in 80 projects under the Export Development Stream.

Associated links

• Creative Export Canada
• Creative Export Strategy
• Doing business with Indigenous creative industries in Canada
• Helping Canada’s creative industries succeed in global markets

Contacts

For more information (media only), please contact:

Ariane Joazard-Bélizaire
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
ariane.joazard-belizaire@pch.gc.ca

Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
1-819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
media@pch.gc.ca

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