Western Canadian producer Buffalo Gal Pictures is opening a Toronto office.

The Winnipeg-based indie producer has hired former Shaftesbury Films exec Christine Tyson to serve as head of development in Toronto, nearer to programming execs at the major broadcasters and Ontario producers with whom Buffalo Gal could partner up.

“We are thrilled to be establishing a presence in Toronto, which already seems like our second home,” Phyllis Laing, president of Buffalo Gal Pictures, explained.

“So it feels like a natural and logical move for us,” she added.

That was certainly the logic last year when Brightlight Pictures opened a Toronto office just as it pacted with Los Angeles-based Essential Pictures to jointly develop and produce TV series for the Canadian and international market.

Besides developing new projects, Tyson will also provide a link between the Winnipeg-based producer and its Toronto-based distributors, funders and broadcasters.