June 22nd, 2022

Screen Nova Scotia announces Gordon Whittaker as Senior Director, Soundstage Project

Quotation Flourish
In March 2022 the provincial government announced an investment of $8 million toward a soundstage that will increase the industry’s capacity, create more jobs and allow productions to continue year-round.
News Flourish

Screen Nova Scotia is pleased to announce that Gordon Whittaker will join the team as Senior Director, Soundstage Project.  In this new role, Whittaker will oversee the development of an industry soundstage, ancillary space and production offices on a to-be-identified property in Nova Scotia. Responsibilities include industry consultation, sourcing a location, business plan development, and design and construction of a soundstage.  Whittaker will lead the project through to the completion of the construction of the facility (the estimated timeline is 2-3 years). 

In March 2022 the provincial government announced an investment of $23 million to help Nova Scotia’s film industry grow sustainably and generate economic activity year-round. This included $8 million toward a soundstage that will increase the industry’s capacity, create more jobs and allow productions to continue year-round.

“Gord is an incredibly well-connected industry veteran, innovator and strategic thinker, with many years of transferable experience to lean on as we work towards establishing a soundstage in Nova Scotia,” said Laura Mackenzie, Executive Director, Screen Nova Scotia. “I’m confident that he will lead us to the development of a soundstage that is technically specific and thoughtfully crafted with the future of the production industry in mind.” 

Gordon Whittaker’s career spans over 30 years in the private, not-for-profit and public sectors. He has held leadership positions in the creative industries in Toronto, Vancouver, and Halifax. Whittaker was most recently Senior Director, Operations at the Halifax-based music connection platform start-up Side Door where he worked with the CEO on strategy, finance, planning and business development. From 2014-2020, Whittaker was President of Oakport Limited responsible for real estate acquisitions, finance, asset management and development.  Prior to Oakport, he led the design and build of DHX Media’s (now Wildbrain) custom animation studio in Halifax.

His career includes 20 years of experience in the film and television industry, starting at a production company in Vancouver, BC. Since moving to Halifax in 1996, he was Executive Director of the Atlantic Film Festival before taking on various roles at Telefilm Canada including Regional Director, Feature Film Executive.  

Whittaker is a Life Governor of NSCAD University and was Chair of the Board of the Downtown Halifax Business Commission for four years. He has served on the board of directors for both the Atlantic International Film Festival and Devour! The Food Film Festival. He has an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from Queen’s University and an MBA from the University of British Columbia.

”The soundstage is a critical piece of infrastructure which positions Nova Scotia’s growing industry for a prosperous future,” said Gordon Whittaker. “I am honoured and excited to take on this role and work with Screen Nova Scotia, the industry and other stakeholders to move this project to completion.”

Screen Nova Scotia is a member-based not-for-profit industry association and film commission that promotes and advocates on behalf of Nova Scotia’s screen industry. Our membership includes producers, service providers, local cast and crew, unions and guilds, and industry organizations.

Screen Nova Scotia is dedicated to building a strong and sustainable future for the province’s production sector. We’re the first point of contact to find out more about locations, production partners, industry resources and infrastructure, and financial incentives.

Whittaker can be reached at: gord@screennovascotia.com