More details have emerged about Ottawa’s commitment of up to $3.5 million to develop the Canadian Film Centre’s digital entertainment initiatives.

Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) Gary Goodyear and Don Valley West MP John Carmichael first made the announcement last Sunday that the Harper government had committed the money over three years.

“FedDev Ontario’s investment will help create jobs, accelerate companies, and develop Canadian-produced entertainment content that will attract foreign investment, and make us a bigger player on the world stage,” said CFC CEO Slawko Klymkiw.

The money is aimed at bolstering the launch of a series of programs, services, tools and training initiatives, with the hope to also attract foreign investment in the digital media sector.

Programming in the works, according to a release via Carmichael’s office, includes workshops to build talent capacity in digital business and entrepreneurial skills.

The CFC’s recently launched ideaBOOST, a so-called launchpad for digital entertainment properties, will also receive support.

Another focus of the contribution will be on prototyping, including a lab to develop new production and service models for IPTV and other research related to new technology.

The announcement was made at the CFC’s annual BBQ, during which the centre also unveiled a three-year partnership with Bell Media as broadcast partner for its Prime Time TV program.

The BBQ, which was a fundraiser attended by approximately 2,000, raised $190,000 for the CFC.

Photo: (L-R) Yannick Bisson, Gary Goodyear, Slawko Klymkiw, John Carmichael and Ana Serrano, in front of the Heart of Stars installation. Photo by Danilo Ursini.