On February 12, the Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC) hosted their annual Video Games on the Hill showcase for parliamentarians and hill staff. The event was held for the first time at the Sir John A Macdonald building in Ottawa, offering an opportunity for members to once again expand their booths and interactive experiences. Member participation included: Ubisoft Montreal, Nintendo Canada, Other Ocean, EA, PlayStation Canada, Xbox Canada, Ludia, and Eidos Montreal.
Sean Casey, MP for Charlottetown and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage greets the Canadian entertainment software industry.
#VideoGamesontheHill brought together 23 Members of Parliament, 2 Ministers and over 200 guests, with special appearances from the world’s most beloved plumber Mario and his trusty sidekick Luigi. Guests were immersed in the world of games and given the opportunity to play some of the most recent games and consoles on the market, including NHL 18, Cuphead, Starlink, Jurassic World, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation VR, and many others.
The event was presented with the participation of Sean Casey, MP for Charlottetown and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage. Mr. Casey spoke on behalf of the federal government and their ongoing support for Canada’s innovative and established video game industry. In addition to the evening showcase, ESAC and board members participated in a number of meetings with government officials in Ottawa. The meeting program included discussions on the upcoming review of the Copyright Act and updates for officials on the effectiveness of the recently implemented Global Talent Stream.
ESAC would like to thank its members and guests for their participation, which contributes to the growth and development of the annual Video Games on the Hill showcase & parliamentary day. For more information, contact Jayson Hilchie at jhilchie@theesa.ca