Ottawa film office explores temporary soundstage options while permanent facility awaits city review

With the establishment of a new soundstage as a main priority, the Ottawa Film Office has been exploring temporary options, including former Hudson's Bay stores, as it waits for the city to review its plans for a permanent facility.

A permanent soundstage for Ottawa has been in the works for several years. In 2018, the film office announced its proposal to build a $40-million soundstage and creative hub on the site of the former Greenbelt Research Farm on Woodroffe Avenue across from the Nepean Sportsplex, with the land leased from the National Capital Commission. Film commissioner Sandrine Pechels de Saint Sardos said the business plan was delivered last December and is currently undergoing peer review with the City of Ottawa. "There are a lot of stakeholders on this project," she explained.

Meanwhile, the film office has been exploring temporary spaces—privately owned, city-owned, or NCC-owned. "We've looked at the (former Hudson's Bay spaces). I checked that and spaces in other malls that have been empty. Those places, because they are privately owned and former retail space, (the landlords) want to have at least a five-year lease. But when you have a production coming in for six to nine months, they don't want to sign a lease for five years," she said.

Pechels de Saint Sardos emphasized that a soundstage has become increasingly pressing. "It's essential to have a soundstage since the environment and weather is changing drastically. In order to keep the flow of work going, we need a soundstage." She noted that the film office was elected a new board of directors for 2026-29, with Tom McSorley, executive director of the Canadian Film Institute, succeeding Ottawa Tourism's Kelly Haussler as chair. Securing the permanent soundstage would be a major success for the new board by the end of its term in 2029. "We're smaller but mighty. We are friendly and have amazing professional crews," she said.