The City of Ottawa is a snowy destination for cross-country skiers, skaters and also a number of Christmas movies.
This past year there were 30 feature-length movies filmed in the nation’s capital and 11 of those were set during the holidays.
The municipality notes that by mid-December the film office was on track to generate millions in revenue for the city, employing thousands and bringing some Ottawa destinations to the big screen.
Most recently, the Netflix movie Hot Frosty, a romantic holiday film with a twist on the classic Frosty the Snowman, features Century Public School and reStays Hotel on Queen Street in the nation’s capital. The majority of the movie is shot in Brockville and Almonte. The movie stars Dustin Milligan best known for his part in Schitts Creek and 90210, and Lacey Chabert who was in Mean Girls.
Other movies shot in Ottawa include 24 Karate Christmas, Falling Like Snowflakes, Wild West Christmas, My Sweet Austrian Holiday and Various Hallmark Unwrapping Christmas films.
Many of the productions work with the Ottawa Film Office to help find local talent, locations and other services.
“And, of course, more than just holiday films are shot here,” the city notes.
This year movies filmed in Ottawa are set to have spent $52 million on live-action productions including for crew, actors, hotels, equipment rentals, locations, vehicle rentals and catering.
Labour and services on animated products could bring in about $15 million.
Ottawa said the numbers of money spent is up from 2023, despite several industry labour disputes.