A consortium of investors including former IATSE Local 891 chief Don Ramsden is planning to develop a purpose-built studio facility in Saanich, a northern suburb of Victoria, which is being promoted as the next film hub in b.c.

The $25-million, six-stage studio development is expected to be more attractive to producers than Victoria Studio’s spare building, which has stood empty at CFB Esquimalt since it was made available to productions a couple of years ago.

‘This won’t work without the infrastructure to support it,’ says Ramsden, referring to the need for services in Victoria such as crews, labs and sound. ‘But that can be built at the same time as the studio.’

Bureaucratic process willing, the Saanich studio should be under construction by year end. IE