Western Canada’s independent production community is worried about the future after Corus Entertainment closed its Movie Central office in Vancouver this week and let go staff, including head of creative affairs Shelley Gillen.

Corus, which is majority controlled by the JR Shaw family, announced this week that it’s cutting 53 jobs and restructuring its broadcast and post-production operations to strengthen its brand and reduce duplication.

The company didn’t reveal many details about the downsizing, but a call to Movie Central’s office in Vancouver reveals that its Vancouver operations have taken a severe hit in the move. ‘Everyone has probably heard by now that the creative affairs office is closed,’ says a somber sounding Gillen in a recorded message. ‘It’s been great working with all of you.’

The CFTPA was quick to react to the news. ‘The closure of this office, and reduction of staff, is a very symbolic message that sends a negative signal to producers in Western Canada,’ CFPTA chair Sandra Cunningham said in a statement. ‘Real regional involvement by broadcasters is key to diversity of voices and the health of the broadcasting system in Canada.’

Last fall, Corus split its storied cartoon house into Nelvana Studios, which focuses on digital animation, and Nelvana Enterprises, which handles international sales; 83 full-time jobs were also eliminated and offices shut down in Edmonton, the U.K. and Los Angeles.

The CFTPA claims Corus is backing down on its publicly stated commitment to Western Canada. When Corus president John Cassaday went before the CRTC in April 2000 to acquire Movie Central, he stated he was ‘deeply committed’ to maintaining a presence in Western Canada,’ says the CFTPA. In 2005, Movie Central’s operation in Edmonton closed.

As part of its restructuring plan, Corus has also dropped Bonita Siegel, director of original productions for the company’s kids unit. Siegel oversaw commissions for Corus nets YTV and Treehouse TV.

‘It was bad news, for sure,’ says one independent Canadian producer, who currently has a copro deal at one of the Corus-owned kidnets. He adds that although he received a call yesterday assuring him that his company’s relationship with Corus would continue as is, he does not know exactly who he will be dealing with now that Siegel is gone. ‘Certainly it was worrying,’ he says. ‘But they did reach out to the producers, so we don’t have our finger on the panic button yet.’

While a number of Corus workers are represented by the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union, a spokesman for the union says none of its members were among those let go this week.

As reported in Playback Daily earlier, vice-president of interactive TV Lucie Lalumière has also departed.

A spokesperson for Corus was not available to comment for this story.

With files from KidScreen Daily

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This story has been corrected. The Movie Central office in Edmonton closed in 2005, not 2006 as originally reported.