Made in British Columbia: How We’re Contributing to the Local Economy Through Storytelling

Virgin River Season 5 Episode 2

By Netflix

British Columbia is home to some of our most beloved series and films. From ocean views to mountain landscapes, the province offers world-class talent, stunning natural landscapes and state-of-the-art facilities, making it an exceptional destination for production.  

Season 1 of Avatar: The Last Airbender filmed locally and spent six weeks on our global Top 10 list. The show hired more than 100 Canadian cast members, 525 Canadian crew members, and 750 Canadian vendors. Local business owner Steven Enns, founder of Hand & Sew, sourced all leather goods for the series. The series generated over $150M gross value added to the Canadian economy.

Fan favourite Virgin River also films across B.C. and Season 5 alone generated a $44.4M economic impact in the province, creating over 390 jobs and supporting 500 businesses. And our limited series Maid, filmed in Greater Victoria, had an estimated $10 million economic impact on the city. Vancouver is also home to Netflix Animation Studios, our hub for creating world-class animated films with cutting-edge technology. Our Vancouver studio was a significant contributor to Adam Sandler’s hit animated film Leo. We’re thrilled to soon be opening a new innovative, purpose-built studio in B.C., furthering our commitment to the province’s creative technology sector.

Filming not only has an impact on local economies in B.C.; it also creates interest in discovering more about the province and has significant potential to drive tourism. Building on this interest, in 2021 we launched Netflix in Your Neighbourhood, allowing fans to discover the stunning real-life backdrops of your favourite shows across B.C. and Canada. 

Netflix is excited to continue making captivating stories that our members love, right here in British Columbia. 

Get ready for the release of The Wrong Paris, also filmed primarily in B.C., on September 12 – streaming only on Netflix.