The Canadian Film Centre will get up to $7.5 million in new infrastructure funding from the federal, provincial and Toronto governments in order to renovate existing facilities and construct three new buildings on its Windfields Campus site.

Peter Kent, Canada’s minister of state of foreign affairs (Americas), and George Smitherman, Ontario’s deputy premier and minister of energy and infrastructure, both used the occasion of the annual CFC BBQ on Sunday to announce $3.25 million in funding. Ontario initially had $2.5 million on offer, but raised the extra money to match the feds’ contribution.

Toronto councilor Shelley Carroll brought an extra $1 million in top-up financing from the city – calling it ‘one of the most important asks of all the infrastructure asks.’

Slawko Klymkiw, executive director of the CFC, said that the much-needed renovations and expansion of the facilities had been on the table for ’18 or 20 years,’ and would pay economic dividends in the long run.

‘Culture is not just unleashing the muse,’ observed Klymkiw, ‘it’s also smart business.’

The renovation project will last 24 months and will concentrate on both upgrading the current grounds and on the creation of three purpose-built elements: a support services building; a special events building; and an extension to the existing gatehouse, to be used for film, TV and new media activities.