Looking to expand business and development slate, Toronto prodco Shaftesbury Films is moving into non-fiction production.

With the launch of Shaftesbury Factual, the company has brought on executive producer Rachel Low (Pitchin’ In, The Opener, Opening Soon) as VP of factual entertainment to handle all aspects of development and production.

The company, known for its drama and children’s offerings, is behind such recent productions as Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures for HBO Canada; The Listener for CTV and Fox International Channels; and Murdoch Mysteries for Citytv and UKTV’s Alibi.

Shaftesbury is already in the works on a number of wide-ranging projects to be announced this fall, and it’s looking to roll them out for TV and other platforms.

Meanwhile, Low comes to the company with more than two decades of non-fiction filmmaking and producing. She comes from Frantic Films, where she served as executive producer and development consultant, also president and executive producer of Red Apple Entertainment, which was acquired by Frantic. There, she oversaw development and production of more than 150 hours of factual programming for networks and international distributors.

Her resume also includes a range of documentary projects, such as teen-targeted program Talkin’ About AIDS, Anatomy of Love for Turner and Discovery Channel Canada; and other docs for the CBC including Gamer Revolution, The Disappearing Male and Surviving the Future and End of Men.

“Rachel is an accomplished, highly talented producer with a proven track record developing hit factual properties.,” said Shaftesbury CEO Christina Jennings in a statement. “She will bring fresh vision to our business and ensure we are positioned to succeed in the non-fiction arena.”