Strengthening Canada’s Interactive Digital Media Sector
Video Games, VR/AR/XR, Immersive Installations, Interactive Education Products
Download the 2025 IDM Profile reportWhy IDM Matters
Interactive Digital Media (IDM) = Video Games, XR, Immersive, Interactive Education Products
Ensuring cultural and economic sovereignty in the Digital and Creative Sector by recognizing the economic importance of Canada’s creative industries and creators.
IDM provides some of today’s most in-demand, well-paying jobs and transferable skills —from video games to animation to XR + AI—helping build sustainable careers in a fast-evolving industry.
As a platform for education and creative storytelling, IDM empowers companies and studios to embrace emerging technologies like AI while creating homegrown IP.
With a total employment impact of over 50,140 and the home to IP that is used by hundreds of millions of people worldwide, the sector is a major economic and IP driver.
Key Facts:
- 937 IDM companies across Canada (1200+ including new micro-startups)
- 37,850 full-time equivalent jobs (50,140 including direct + indirect employment)
- $5.5 billion annual contribution to Canada’s GDP
- 88% of IDM revenue comes from exports
- Average annual salary: $103,000
- 89% of Canadian youth engage with interactive media
What’s at Stake?
How Will Canada Remain a Global Leader in Video Game and Immersive Content?
By investing in Canadian IP, modernizing support for AI and XR, and backing export-ready, diverse creators.
Who Defines Our Digital Identity if Canadian Content Isn’t Supported?
Without funding and discoverability, Canadian voices risk being lost in the global digital landscape.
How Do We Ensure Canadian Youth See Themselves in the Media They Use?
By funding Canadian stories in the interactive formats young people actually engage with every day.
What Does Digital Sovereignty Look Like in a Global Media Landscape?
It means owning our platforms, telling our stories, and supporting Canadian creators — including Québécois and Indigenous voices — in emerging media.
Our Priorities
- Integrate Interactive Digital Media into cultural, innovation, and skills training policy
- CMF: Double funding for IDM to $100M to reflect growth potential
- ISED: Establish a $2B Innovation Fund to invest in Canadian intellectual property, support the technological transition of the sector, and digital storytelling technologies.
- Skills Training: Support Creative Technology skills training.
Member Associations
La Guilde is the largest group of game studios in Canada representing nearly 16000 employees and 350 studios, with the goal of uniting Québec’s video game ecosystem with a focus on growth, collaboration, and exports.
La Guilde du Jeu Vidéo du Québec
DigiBC supports the growth and competitiveness of British Columbia’s digital media and creative technology sectors, including video games, animation, and XR.
DigiBC
Interactive Ontario represents Ontario's video game and XR studios, championing their growth through advocacy, industry-driven programming, access to a world-class community, and high-quality business development opportunities both domestically and internationally.
Interactive Ontario
New Media Manitoba accelerates the development of IDM companies and talent across Manitoba through training, business support, and community building.
New Media Manitoba
XN Québec brings together Québec’s producers of immersive and interactive experiences, promoting creativity, diversity, and international visibility.
XN Québec
Sask Interactive promotes the growth of Saskatchewan’s IDM industry by supporting creators, entrepreneurs, and digital innovators throughout the province.
Sask Interactive
The Interactive Society of Nova Scotia advocates for local IDM talent and industry growth through networking, training, and provincial partnerships.
ISNS
Videogames PEI fosters the growth of PEI’s video game development sector by connecting studios, supporting education, and attracting new talent.
Videogames PEI
Digital Alberta champions innovation and industry collaboration across Alberta’s interactive digital media and emerging technology communities.
Digital Alberta
Interactive NB supports New Brunswick’s IDM industry through collaboration, funding access, and community development for studios and digital creators.
Interactive NB
Sponsors
XP Gaming connects game industry professionals to the partners, insights, and opportunities that drive business growth.
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