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British Columbia’s Creative Sector

#BCCreates our stories and our creative economy.

Orpheus VR

About British Columbia’s Creative Sector

British Columbia is a global hub for content creation and storytelling. From film and television to gaming, publishing, music, and digital media, B.C.’s creators and companies bring a distinctly west coast Canadian perspective to audiences everywhere—on pages and screens big and small, consoles, tablets, streaming platforms, and beyond.

United under the #BCCreates banner and supported by Creative BC, the province’s creative industries showcase world-class talent, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit. Together, they are seizing opportunities in an international marketplace that is hungrier than ever for fresh stories, bold ideas, and new formats.

As technology evolves, so do the ways we create and consume content. Mobile, streaming, and digital platforms have transformed audience behaviours, business models, and opened new possibilities for content creators. Each industry has unique drivers, but all share a common need: to innovate, adapt, be discovered, and find new ways to monetize creativity in a fast-changing world.

Explore the 9 Enabling Factors that power a thriving creative economy—and see how B.C. continues to lead the way, including through Creative BC’s supports: BC Film Commission, international and domestic Motion Picture Tax Credits Administration, Funding Programs for B.C.creators, and Sector-Wide Economic Development Services.

Recent Impacts

CIERA™ 2023

Figures reflect use of B.C. multipliers for indirect and induced impacts. All results exclude any government subsidies received by industry.

$5.6B

Total GDP¹

4.8%

Sector’s Total GDP CAGR²
(2015-2024 GDP CAGR)

121,612

Est. People³

$6.4B

Direct Output

Challenges and Opportunities
BDC’s 2025 Outlook for Canada’s Creative and Cultural Industries reports that Canada’s and British Columbia’s creative sector faces a complex mix of pressures and possibilities. Rising wages, production costs, and inflation continue to squeeze margins, particularly for domestic producers and smaller publishing houses. At the same time, digital disruption is reshaping the landscape: print media remains in long-term decline while streaming platforms and gaming surge ahead, demanding rapid adaptation. Talent shortages add another layer of urgency, as high-skill roles in gaming, film, and music technology are increasingly difficult to fill—making workforce development and immigration pathways essential for sustaining growth. Finally, global competition is intensifying, and the ability to protect intellectual property and execute strong export strategies will determine whether B.C. can maintain its leadership position in the creative economy.

Bottom Line:
B.C.’s creative sector is a cornerstone of economic diversification and creative cultural vitality. It outperforms national trends, drives global engagement, and fuels innovation. But to sustain this momentum, we must confront structural challenges head-on—supporting digital transformation, workforce resilience, and export capacity. In doing so, we not only strengthen an industry—we secure B.C.’s place as a global leader in creativity and culture.

Profiles by Industry Segment

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Book Publishing
British Columbia is the second-largest English language book publishing region in Canada.
Image: Upstart and Crow
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Interactive Digital Media
Canada’s second-largest video game production hub and North America’s second-largest AR/VR centre.
Image: Museum of Other Realities
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Magazine Publishing
B.C. has close to 300 publications reflecting the perspective, lifestyle, spirit, and aesthetic of our province.
Image: Folklife Magazine
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Motion Picture
North America’s third-largest film and TV hubs, creating the world’s top live-action and animated productions.
Image: ALWAYS BE MY MAYBE, Netflix
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Music + Sound Recording
B.C. is Canada’s third-largest music production centre with a signature west coast community vibe.
Image: Laketown Shakedown
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Multi-Creative Industry Services
Multi-skilled professionals and businesses that service a number of industries within this convergent sector.
Image: “Different Than Before” Amanda Sum

Resources

Funding Recipients

Annual motion picture tax credit administration and certification data.
View recipients

BC Creates

Read about British Columbia’s creators.
View BC Creates

Research + Reports

Recording Creative BC’s services, activities, and impact by fiscal year.
View reports
Slot Gacor