f i l m i n g i n n o r t h b a y , o n t a r i o
o u r c o m m u n i t y a t a g l a n c e
North Bay is a vibrant city of 54,000 people and has a regional population of 109,000. The
city is centrally located at the junction of highways 11 and 17, is a 3.5 hour drive from
both Toronto and Ottawa and is only an hour’s drive North of Huntsville.
North Bay is well connected by land, air, rail and telecommunication infrastructure. North
Bay’s Jack Garland Airport provides regularly scheduled passenger and air cargo service
to and from the city.
l o c a t i o n d i v e r s i t y
With a number of rural neighbouring communities and nearby access points to Algonquin
Park, urban film sequences can easily be combined within a short distance from
countryside landscapes.
Unique attractions such as the Heritage Railway & Carousel Company and the Chief
Commanda II cruise vessel provide unique seasonal backdrops for filming.
North Bay’s natural environment lends itself to a variety
of four season recreational activities including cross
country and downhill skiing, access to 3,400 km of
groomed snowmobile trails, close proximity to 8 golf
courses, 6 marinas, 42 beaches, 74 park areas and
access to 100+ km of multi -use trails.
Features within city limits include: Duchesnay Falls, the
Laurentian Ski Hill, St. Joseph’s Mother House, 2 large
lakes with uninhibited vistas (Lake Nipissing & Trout
Lake), vacant islands and Otter Lake - a municipally
owned, pristine lake property of 350 acres.
In 1959, construction began on an underground complex in North Bay. Operations of the North
American Aerospace Defense Command took place in what is commonly referred to as “The Hole”
until an above-ground facility was constructed in 2005.
The Hole is a 140,000 sq.-ft., 3-storey office complex located 690 feet underground as a
nuclear-proof facility.
Currently, the facility remains vacant and is maintained by the
Department of National Defense.
North Bay is home to one of only two former Bomarc Missile Sites in
Canada. The 130 acre gated property contains 28 individual missile silos, 2
warehouses and is located at the north end of the City of North Bay.
Doing business in North Bay and area conveniently
combines unique rural landscapes with the benefits
and location options of an urban centre.
Buildings range from historic, century-old heritage sites
like the former North Bay Normal School to modern
multi-million dollar facilities such as the brand new
North Bay Regional Health Centre.
Locally, Nipissing University and Canadore College
offer a variety of full-scale mock rooms including: a
court room, medical rooms, an airport hangar and
many more.
Residential areas include 18th century homes, 50’s
ranch-style neighbourhoods, upscale properties on the
escarpment, lakefront housing and a variety of
condominiums.
a r t s , c u l t u r e & h e r i t a g e
North Bay has a variety of amenities and hosts many
activities that contribute to the community’s cultural
fabric.
Area museums include the original homestead of the
Dionne Quintuplets and the former Canadian Pacific
Railway Station.
The community features numerous art galleries, a 1,000
seat arts centre and a number of historical buildings.
North Bay also borders the Nipissing 10 First Nations
reserve.
t a l e n t p o o l
North Bay takes advantage of the Northern Ontario talent pool to support multimedia
projects. Locally, Nipissing University & Canadore College offer a variety of programs to
support film and digital media productions.
i n f r a s t r u c t u r e
North Bay’s Jack Garland Airport is municipally owned,
has a 10,000 foot runway - one of only 4 in Ontario, and
can accommodate all types of aircraft.
North Bay is at the cross roads of the national fibre
network, supporting various ICT operations including the
North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
With access to high speed Internet and full cell coverage
from all major carriers, working in remote areas is possible
and convenient.
Fully serviced business parks offer a variety of industrial
and commercial space.
Comprehensive medical services in North Bay are
provided by the new $550 million North Bay Regional
Health Centre.
Originally established as a transportation hub, North Bay
has maintained active rail lines that areaccessible for
filming purposes.
i n c e n t i v e s
■ No film permit fees
■ A Film & Television Production Handbook is available with relevant contact
information and application templates
The Economic Development Department supports productions by:
■ Streamlining all necessary municipal permits and approvals through an established
Project Review Team—includes representatives from relevant municipal departments
■ Assisting with Preliminary location scouting
■ Facilitating local contacts
■ Liaison with community partners
■ Assisting with public funding applications
Funding specific to Northern Ontario:
■ The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation’s Emerging Technology Program
■ The Northern Ontario Media Fund
f a c t s
Land Area: 77 815 acres
Elevation: 646 ft
Average Seasonal Temperatures Average Precipitation
Winter -25 °C May - October 93 mm (rain)
Spring 12 °C November - April 43 cm (snow)
Summer 25 °C
Fall 10 °C
Lakes
Lake Nipissing - has a surface area of more than 21,000 acres and an average depth of
14 ft.
Trout Lake - is long and narrow and approximately 11km long and has an average
depth of 180 ft.
Otter Lake - is a pristine and undeveloped natural area owned by the City of North Bay.
The lake has a total park area of 350 acres and a total lake area of 190 acres.
Region
Neighbouring communities include: Callander, Powassan, Mattawa and West Nipissing.
These communities offer unique production locations and are film friendly.
City of North Bay I Economic Development I Film & Television Division
1.800.465.1882 x 2417
investinnorthbay.ca