Eastern Ontario’s first 3D training centre launched in Prince Edward County

Embracing the next wave in media at the launch of Eastern Ontario's first 3D/HD training centre are PELA CFDC's Craig Desjardins, Whistlestop's David Hatch and Prince Edward MP Daryl Kramp.

Prince Edward County has one of the keys to the success of the next wave in media with the launch Tuesday of Eastern Ontario’s first 3D/HD training centre for television content creation. 3D is fast becoming the new media being developed not only for television, movies and games, but also in sectors as diverse as health care, manufacturing, architecture and urban design.
PEC Mayor Peter Mertens calls the launch of the Headland 3D Centre of Excellence a boost to the County’s Creative Rural Economy and a catalyst for like business attraction.

The Headland New Media Development Organization, of Picton, has partnered with WhistleStop Productions Inc. and Loyalist College to help deliver a Post Diploma Certificate in 3D Video Production to post-graduate students and television and new media industry professionals.
The new program is partially funded through a $99,000 grant from the Government of Canada Eastern Ontario Development Program (EODP).
“The creation of the 3D Centre of Excellence provides highly specialized skills training opportunities that will allow graduates to work in 3D television production, creating programming for domestic and international television markets, in our own region. The outcome will be increased work opportunities for youth, leading to building community capacity which is so vital to the spirit and life blood of our region,” said Stacey Hatch, Executive Director of The Headland.
“WhistleStop Productions is excitedabout the opportunity to create a public/ private/ educational partnership that will benefit both students and the local creative economy,” said David Hatch, President of WhistleStop Productions Inc.
Stacey and David Hatch founded The Headland, a not-for-profit organization, in 2009 with support from Prince Edward County’s economic development office and Prince Edward Lennox Addington Community Futures Development Corporation (PELA CFDC) with the goal of fostering skills development and mentorship of youth in the new media industry.
A Loyalist College presence in Picton is an important step to achieving the objectives of the County’s 2007 Strategic Plan, Mertens says.
“It provides post secondary educational opportunities for local youth and professionals, contributes to a well trained local workforce and will increase stable, measurable, year-round employment opportunities. This is a perfect example of collaboration on the part of the County, the business and academic community and PELA CFDC. The 3D Centre of Excellence is a real triumph for our local creative economy,” said Mertens. “We look forward to exploring further opportunities with Loyalist College.”
Daryl Kramp, Member of Parliament for Prince Edward–Hastings, was impressed  when he donned the 3D glasses and saw the technology in action.

“This  Government of Canada  investment in The Headland  for the development of a 3D film and editing technology Centre of Excellence will provide not only economic stimulus to communities in Prince Edward-Hastings for job creation, but will also provide training for the innovative and cutting-edge jobs of tomorrow,” said  Kramp.
“This success, after the better part of two years of hard work by PELA CFDC staff, reflects all the things we do best: leveraging federal financial resources, the skills and initiative of entrepreneurs, the knowledge depth of academic institutions, professional development and job skills for young people, all to the end of real, innovative, economic growth in the local community,” said John Licharson, Chairman of PELA CFDC.
The Government of Canada’s $99,000 contribution to the project is from the 2010-2011 Eastern Ontario Development Program regional project component.

Gillian Chapman was delighted to experience how a "Green Room" works. She sat in a chair surrounded by "green" and watched herself appear on television with a multitude of backgrounds available at the click of a keyboard.