Ontario’s fast-growing film and television industry makes significant cultural and economic contributions to the province. In 2019, the industry contributed a record-breaking $2.16 billion in direct spending to Ontario’s economy, and created 44,540 high-value full-time jobs for Ontarians.
Circular Innovation Council and an advisory board of industry partners, the OGS Strategic Plan’s inaugural year successfully identified the needs of the industry; established connections; educated industry workers on sustainability; socialized innovative ideas amongst stakeholders; and developed a variety of approaches to best implement the plan.
The economic, social, and environmental opportunities to advance sustainability in Ontario’s film and TV industry is greater than it has ever been. In 2021 Ontario reported its highest production levels to date with almost 400 productions bringing in $2.88 billion in production spending for the economy. This represents over 48,000 full-time equivalent direct and spin-off jobs, which is an increase of 38 per cent or 18,468 jobs from 2020.
Film and television production thrives across the province, supporting local economies and enriching the cultural fabric of our communities. Celebrated live action such as Schitt’s Creek, The Queen’s Gambit, The Handmaid’s Tale, Shape of Water, Star Trek: Discovery, Cardinal, and Murdoch Mysteries, as well as animated projects such as Paw Patrol and Hilda are just some examples of world-class content produced in Ontario.
The four-year plan lays out specific, measurable, and timely goals for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and waste in Ontario’s film and television industry, and is based on four key pillars:
Since 2021, Circular Innovation Council has worked with stakeholders in Ontario’s film and television industry to implement initiatives that deliver Ontario Green Screen’s goals.
Ontario Creates is proud to be a founding partner of Ontario Green Screen. We are committed to an inclusive community that advances sustainability across the province. The OGS Strategic Plan will inform and educate Ontario’s screen workers on sustainable practices, demonstrate leadership and deliver meaningful green initiatives for Ontario.
Justin Cutler
Film Commissioner
Ontario Creates
Working with Ontario Creates to implement sustainable best practices is an exciting prospect to reduce the environmental impacts of film and television productions province-wide. We look forward to working with industry stakeholders to put circular concepts into action and showcase Ontario’s starring role in advancing the circular economy.
Jo-Anne St.Godard
Executive Director
Circular Innovation Council
In 2019, Ontario Creates engaged a sustainability working group composed of interested industry organizations, service providers, unions, guilds and individual stakeholders. The results of the consultations were clear. The industry was actively looking for tools and training resources for sustainable film production practices, pathways to lower carbon emissions, reduced waste and a means to incorporate sustainable on-set management across the film and television sector.
Ontario Green Screen is the collaborative initiative between government, industry partners, unions, guilds, trade associations and companies that endeavours to make lasting change in the industry and to empower individuals, production companies and studios to make sustainable choices.
Mission: Provide the tools necessary to empower the motion picture industry in Ontario to incorporate and scale up environmentally sustainable best practices that lead to the well-being of our environment.
Ontario Creates is an agency of the provincial government whose mandate is to be a catalyst for economic development, investment and collaboration in Ontario’s creative industries including the music, book, magazine, film, television and interactive digital media sectors, both domestically and internationally.
Ontario Creates is committed to delivering high-impact support that creates jobs and economic opportunities for Ontarians and that contributes to an advantageous business environment for growth. Through targeted programs and services, support for innovation, and by leveraging public and private partnerships, Ontario Creates builds the capacity and competitiveness of the Province’s creative industries to deliver award-winning content that is enjoyed by audiences across Ontario and around the world.
Circular Innovation Council – originally established as Recycling Council of Ontario in 1978 – believes that shifting production and consumption in a circular economy simultaneously supports environmental, economic, and social objectives of sustainable living. We are inclusive and collaborative among supply and value chains, and seek to advance business models, products, and services that can deliver on the values and benefits of a circular economy. Through better resource efficiency – reuse, share, repair, refurbish, remanufacture, recover in a closed-loop system – we can reduce waste, pollution, and carbon emissions. In doing so, we showcase innovation by putting circular economy concepts into action.
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We respectfully acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territory of many Indigenous Nations and we humbly extend my respect to Indigenous individuals, communities and Elders, past and present, as the traditional custodians of this land.
Circular Innovation Council is a registered charity.
Charity Registration Number: 119112118 RR 0001
