HALIFAX, July 4, 2024

The Government of Canada is committed to helping Canadian creative businesses and organizations enhance their visibility and increase their exports in global markets. This benefits Canada’s economy and our creative professionals.

Today, Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament (Halifax) announced a $290,000 investment in seven creative Nova Scotia companies, as part of the first cohort of the Creative Export Canada program’s Export Development Stream. He made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage. This support will help Canadian companies and organizations grow their business and achieve financial success abroad.

Maritime Digital Art Design specializes in interactive digital media. It focuses on 3D visualization, multimedia, immersive and interactive media. The Export Development Stream is investing $90,000 to help the company publish two virtual reality games worldwide, created by its subsidiary Paracosm Studio. Dagger Woods VR: Echoes of the Lost, its main intellectual property, immerses players in a psychological thriller inspired by true Nova Scotia events and folklore in 1922. POI: VR Dance provides players with a meditative experience through momentum and dance and is designed to be relaxing and energizing.

The company’s plans include international distribution and participation in major gaming conferences to meet with key industry players. Despite being new to the export space, it aims to tap into the potential of the virtual reality market by exporting to countries such as the United States, Germany, France and China, known for strong gaming industries and enthusiastic player communities.

The Export Development Stream supports projects by Canadian businesses and organizations that are entering international markets and expanding their global networks. This includes support for creative businesses and organizations from equity-deserving communities, including Indigenous communities.

This Export Development Stream is also supporting six other Nova Scotia businesses:

• Atlantic Film Festival Association
• Atlantic Presenters Association Inc.
• Brass Door Productions Inc.
• Craft Alliance
• Lunenburg Doc Fest Association
• Moonshot Rights Inc.

See the attached backgrounder for details on these projects and the Creative Export Program funding support.