Wales builds creative links with Canada

Canada’s top representative in Britain has been welcomed to Wales for the first time by First Minister Carwyn Jones for talks on developing trade links between the two countries.

High Commissioner Gordon Campbell, who has been in post since September this year, said, “Canada and Wales have both established a strong reputation for creativity, and I’m sure that there are many opportunities for Canadian and Welsh companies to work together in areas such as film, the literary arts, and digital interactive technologies for entertainment and education.

The First Minister said: ” We already have strong relationships through the creative industries and I want to encourage any further opportunities for our two nations to do business with each other.”

There are a number of links between Wales and Canada through the creative industries, including:

Machine Productions which co-produced the first series of the children’s TV show Tati’s Hotel with Canadian production company Screen Door Ltd.

Ha Ha Hairies Ltd set up in Cardiff last year by Jan Page and Mellie Buse, the creators of Grandpa in my Pocket. Canada-based company Decode was appointed to distribute the TV show internationally.

Rondo Media recently worked with Canadian-based production company Rhombus on a documentary entitled The Devil’s Horn about the history of the saxophone.

Dinamo productions are working on a new project called Badly Drawn Roy and will be working alongside a company called Lizard Brain Animation based in British Columbia.

Calon is developing a project with a company in Montreal, called Cinegroupe, for an animated series for a grown-up audience.

During his time in Wales the High Commissioner will tour the Senedd, the roof of which is constructed from Canadian Red Cedar wood.