The federal government has invested more than $645,000 dollars to support the local screen industry in the Yukon.

Announced by Dr. Brendan Hanley, Member of Parliament for the Yukon, on Wednesday (July 3), the investment is meant to support the infrastructure and labour force needed to grow the sector.

More than $620,000 has been allocated to the Screen Production Yukon Association (SPYA). The funds will be used to provide industry training, open a dedicated studio space, develop a northern screen industry conference and attract local productions, in addition to supporting SPYA purchase gear and update its website and branding.

SPYA executive board member Brianne Bremner said in a statement that the investment will help create a community hub that will serve as a film studio, office and equipment rental location to increase the local industry’s capacity. It is expected to open for rentals as early as the fall.

Another $25,000 was given to Whitehorse-based prodco Shot in the Dark Productions for its children’s TV series Northern Tails. The funds have been used to provide professional puppetry training so local workers can perform on the series.

Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock puppeteer Ali Eisner was brought up to train the local team, according to a statement from Shot in the Dark Productions owner Kelly Milner.

The funds were provided through the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency’s Inclusive Diversification and Economic Advancement in the North (IDEANorth) program.

“Investing in the Yukon’s screen media industry supports more than entertainment, it promotes the territory’s cultural identity, sharing our stories with national and international audiences,” said Hanley in a statement. “Our government is supporting these projects to strengthen the local industry, by expanding the number of made-in-the-Yukon productions and creating more opportunities for Yukoners.”

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