CALGARY, AB, November 16, 2023 /CNW/ – Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (“OCIF”) is positioning Calgary to take advantage of new opportunities in digital media and entertainment arts by investing up to 5.5 million dollars at the Calgary Entertainment Arts Production Hub (“CEAPH”) at Bow Valley College.
“Disruptive technologies are transforming the way content is produced, distributed and monetized around the world. By investing in talent development and fostering entrepreneurship, we can capture the economic growth and investment potential these changes bring,” said Brad ParryCEO, Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund and President and CEO, Calgary Economic Development.
CEAPH will be a world-class facility right in the heart of the city Calgary and a creative arts ecosystem that aims to develop careers and companies in the creative industries by offering training, reskilling and upskilling programs including 3D animation and visual effects, game development, post-production, augmented and virtual reality, capture of motion, eSports, podcasting and more.
Supporting business incubation, applied research, community building and youth engagement, the Calgary Entertainment Arts Production Center at Bow Valley College will be a catalyst for economic growth, supporting business development activities in the entertainment arts industry and attracting more investment to Calgary in this exciting sector.
Between 2024 and 2028, CEAPH is expected to train 675 individuals and support more than 125 companies. These efforts have the potential to create over 300 jobs.
“This investment is a game-changer for our students, faculty and researchers, who will continue to contribute their talent and skills to a thriving sector of our economy. We are thrilled to partner with Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund to build a world-class hub for the next generation of creative minds,” said Dr. Mishek Mwaba, president and CEO of Bow Valley College.
CEAPH aims to make careers in the creative industries more accessible to Calgarians by removing financial barriers, providing access to cutting-edge technology, providing inclusive programs and creating mentorship opportunities, particularly for students from underserved groups participation.
“The inclusive economy is built with talent opportunities across sectors. This investment in of Calgary creative industries will strengthen our economy, expand of Calgary culture of innovation and contribute to a dynamic and increasingly diverse central core,” they said Calgary mayor Jyoti Gondek.
OCIF is a 100 million dollars initiative launched by City of Calgary in 2018 to make strategic investments for the diversification and transformation of the economy. It is a critical tool for progress of Calgary economic strategy, Calgary in the New Economyas each investment is intended to stimulate a greater increase in economic activity.
To date, more than 82 million dollars is allocated to 26 projects, which stimulates 800 million dollars of investment, creation, training and retention of more than 3,000 jobs and supported or launched more than 500 local companies.
FOR THE POSSIBILITY CALGARY INVESTMENT FUND
The Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund was established as a wholly owned subsidiary of The City of Calgary in 2018 to help catalyze investment within the city to support the diversification and transformation of the economy. The fund is administered by Calgary Economic Development and has a volunteer board of directors. For more information, please visit our website.
For more information contact:
Grace Fullerton
Manager, Communications
Media Hotline: 403 880 7040
Email: [email protected]
FOR BOW VALLEY COLLEGE
Calgary and the largest college in the region – with 15,000 full-time and part-time students – Bow Valley College helps Open Doors and Open Minds for in-demand jobs in Calgary, Albertaand Canada. Our graduates contribute to the digital economy, careers in business, television and film production and serve on the front lines in health and social services. Bow Valley College invests in three pillars of applied research: educational technology, social innovation and healthcare.
For more information contact:
Shannon van Leinen
Senior Media Relations Specialist
Phone: 403 671 3274
Email: [email protected]
SOURCE Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund
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