Interactive Ontario and a group of Interactive Digital Media (IDM) leaders continue to meet with Minister MacLeod (Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries aka MHSTCI), who is in charge of the IDM sector in Ontario.
She has created 15 advisory sectoral panels, including IDM. The panels will provide ideas on how MHSTCI and government can collaborate with each sector on innovative approaches for recovery and growth, as Ontario emerges from the COVID-19 crisis. The main focus of the work of the panels will be on initiatives that will be cost-neutral to the government.
Recommendations will have to be substantiated by evidence on the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. They will be submitted in about five weeks.
The Twelve Members of the IDM Advisory Panel are:
o Don Fernando, Ganz
o Graham Smith, DrinkBox Studios
o Jean-Sylvain Sormany, Snowed In Studios
o Jeff Evans, Tiny Titan Studios
o Joel Burgess, Capybara Games
o Jonathan Stanton-Humphreys, Hitgrab Game Labs
o Lucie Lalumière, Interactive Ontario (Chair)
o Lesley Phord-Toy, Ubisoft (Co-Chair)
o Mary Sorrenti, Game Pill (Co-Chair)
o Mike Schmalz, Digital Extremes
o Vanessa Chia, Cococucumber
o Vikas Gupta, AVARA Media
MHSTCI and Ontario Creates participate in and support the IDM Advisory Panel.
Contact the IDM panel members directly at advocacy@interactiveontario.com with your input on potential recovery and stimulus measures.
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Task Force & Town Hall: Recovery/Stimulus Measures for the IDM/Games Industry
Interactive Ontario created an IO COVID-19 Task Force to consult industry on impacts and recovery/stimulus measures. Participating leaders are from the IDM Panel as well as Uken Games, Dark Slope, Redwood Performance Group, Certain Affinity, Bloom Digital Media, Finish Line Games, Stitch Media, BattleGoat Studios, Secret Location, TableRock Media, Apocalypse Studios, Insert Coin, ESAC and Hand Eye Society. As other companies reached out to us to provide input and ideas, we’ve decided to extend participation to the Task Force via a Town Hall.
Therefore, Interactive Ontario is organizing an Online Town Hall on recovery and stimulus measures. We will brief you on the latest advocacy news and seek ideas/input on potential measures. Participants must be in a leadership position or have been delegated by the company’s leadership team. Eligible participants include representatives of companies of all sizes, including sole proprietorships. The participating companies must be producers of Interactive Digital Media (e.g. games, XR, transmedia, eLearning) with the exception of a few stakeholders that are already working with IO on potential measures.
The Town Hall will be held on Monday May 4th at 1:00 pm
Register For the Town Hall
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Interactive Ontario is launching a weekly series that will cover your pressing questions as they relate to COVID-19 relief measures that can apply to the IDM/Games industry.
In collaboration with BDO, we hosted a discussion on the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) and NRC IRAP Innovation Assistance Program (IAP). The panel of experts highlight your questions and concerns, especially if you are considering applying.
NRC IRAP Innovation Assistance Program (IAP) Applications Due Today by 11:59 pm EST
Watch the video featuring the panel of experts and gain insights for your Wage Subsidy (CEWS) & NRC IRAP Program applications.
Email us your suggestions for session topics at communications@interactiveontario.com
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The Canadian Business Resilience Network