Filming in Thunder Bay

Filming in Thunder Bay, Ontario

Population: 110,000
Distance From Toronto: 1,392km (865 miles) Show me on the map
Eligible for Northern Ontario-specific funding: Yes

In Thunder Bay, you get the best of both worlds.

As the largest city on Lake Superior, Thunder Bay is the gateway to Canada’s great outdoors. Sitting on the Canadian/American border, Thunder Bay is a unique site for filming, boosting historical and modern architecture, vibrant culture, and enriching scenes from our acres of boreal forest, fields, mountains, lakes and other waterways. Thunder Bay is a simple two-hour flight from Toronto or Winnipeg, or 8-hour drive from Winnipeg by car.

Filming in Thunder Bay means:

  • No film permit fees
  • Over 2,700 hotel rooms
  • Access to Northern Ontario specific financing, like the NOHFC
  • Brand new state-of-the-art audio production studio 
  • Passionate and professional crew and talent that work well together
  • Scenic rural locations within a 1-hour drive, including wilderness, historical, agricultural, and Lake Superior
  • Unique attractions such as an 1816 Fur Trade Fort, 1900’s Pioneer Village, and Former Provincial Courthouse
  • Two major airlines servicing Thunder Bay making access from Toronto easy

Information on Film Permits

General InformationSpecial Events PermitRoad Closure PermitPyrotechnic and Fire Permits

Contact

Erin Simmons, Digital & Travel Media Officer
erin.simmons@thunderbay.ca
The City of Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay Tourism + CEDC

Fort Williamson
Canyon
Puksakwa Park
City Night
Camping
Winter
Auditorium
Church
Cedar Falls
Botanical Garden
Farm Land
Mount McKay
Downtown
Old Hall
Old Cottage

A Gateway to the Great Outdoors

Rural & Wild

Thunder Bay’s surrounding townships include both agricultural and wilderness settings, with fields of wheat, local produce, and livestock among barns and farmhouses from the early 1900s, and where you can discover quiet secondary highways and dirt roads nestled between mountains, lakes, and rivers.

Within an hour drive of Thunder Bay, find yourself surrounded by the great outdoors among both waterways, and the world’s largest contiguous boreal forest. Explore the great provincial parks that include lakes, rivers, hiking and biking trails, cabins and other scenic backgrounds.

Urban & Historical

In the City of Thunder Bay, you will find both historical and modern style architecture. Some of the oldest buildings in Thunder Bay are from the turn of the century and face views of Lake Superior. Notable infrastructure includes churches, museums, schools, and even a former Provincial Courthouse.

Located 15 minutes of Thunder Bay’s southside is Fort William Historical Park, an 1800s Fur Trade Fort located along the Kaministiquia River, as well as the Oliver Paipoonge Heritage Park, which is home to an early 1900 pioneer village.

Local Crew

Thunder Bay’s Confederation College Film Production program and Lakehead University’s Media, Film and Communications program produce new film crew looking for experience. Crew in Thunder Bay work well together on projects to support any film project, proving adept across all departments. 

Thunder Bay has a welcoming and supportive community dedicated to assisting filmmakers and ensuring the success of productions. Thunder Bay is also home to Northwestern Ontario’s first, state-of-the-art and multi-purpose music, film, and TV audio production studio, Blueprints Studio.

Resources in Thunder Bay

  • Thunder Bay

    With access to state of the art video equipment and studio facilities, Apple Wagon Films are able to offer unparalleled flexibility to clients for all their video needs.

    278 Bay Street
    Thunder Bay, Ontario
    Curtis Jensen
  • Thunder Bay

    Our experienced videographers can confidently tackle any phase of video production in Thunder Bay. This includes creative development, producing, videography and editing.

    278 Bay Street
    Thunder Bay, Ontario
    Curtis Jensen
  • Thunder Bay

    Airline that serves 11 destinations in Ontario and Winnipeg, Manitoba. No other airline offers better connecting service between NW Ontario and NE Ontario. Thunder Bay acts as Bearskin's major hub, linking Northern Ontario's 5 largest cities to NW Ontario and to Winnipeg.

    100 Princess st.
    Thunder Bay, Ontario
  • 2080 Hwy 61,
    Thunder Bay, Ontario P7J 1B8
  • 655 Arthur Street W,
    Thunder Bay, Ontario P7E 5R6
  • Thunder Bay

    We cater to clients in both the music and film industries in a variety of capacities, offering creative and technical services like music composition and production, mixing, sound design, foley, ADR, narration/voice acting and location sound, among others. Other services include locations scout support, equipment rentals, production assistance, and small set rentals.

    911B Tungsten St.
    Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 5Z3
  • Thunder Bay

    We are a Thunder Bay local small thrift store with a lot of character, family owned.

    505 1/2 Victoria Ave E
    Thunder Bay, Ontario
  • 660 W Arthur St W,
    Thunder Bay, Ontario P7E 5R8
  • Thunder Bay

    We provide award-winning videography & editing services to Thunder Bay, Ontario and beyond! We create high quality videos for marketing, events, real estate, and more.

    143 Marlborough Street
    Thunder Bay, Ontario
    Victor C.
  • Thunder Bay

    Zoe Gordon and Shayne Ehman are media artists collaborating with colleagues on broadcast television, film and contemporary media arts. 

    Thunder Bay, Ontario
    Shayne Ehman
  • 645 Sibley Dr,
    Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 6Z8
  • 1250 Golf Links Rd,
    Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 0A1
  • 2240 Sleeping Giant Pkwy,
    Thunder Bay, Ontario P7A 0E7
  • Thunder Bay

    Constructed with our guests' comfort in mind, Dog Lake Resort resort features nine contemporary and spacious one-bedroom and two-bedroom log cabins, surrounded by tasteful decor.

    R.R.#14, Box 30, Site 12  Dog Lake Road
    Thunder Bay, Ontario
  • Thunder Bay

    Based in Thunder Bay, Ontario. We have travelled all over the world working on everything from television to corporate. We focus on the various aspects of both aerials, photography and cinematography.

    Thunder Bay, Ontario
  • Thunder Bay

    Airline offering services between Toronto and Thunder Bay.

    100 Princess st.
    Thunder Bay, Ontario
  • Thunder Bay

    Thunder Bay’s most distinguished town car service for weddings, business, or just a night on the town. Our plush SUVs and uniformed drivers will ensure you arrive with style.

    #200 - 125 Cumberland Street N
    Thunder Bay, Ontario P7A 4M4
    Jan Derkatch
  • 760 Arthur St W,
    Thunder Bay, Ontario P7E 5R9
  • 1041 Carrick St,
    Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 6L9
  • 686 Memorial Ave,
    Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 3Z5
  • Thunder Bay

    An experienced aerial video and photographic specialist. Our aerial work is fully licensed with Transport Canada maintaining a RPAS Advanced License. We are also fully insured.

    1411 Hutton Park Drive
    Thunder Bay, Ontario
    Alan Auld
  • Thunder Bay

    A video editing company based in Thunder Bay, Ontario, focusing on the entire post-production process for Film, Video and New Media projects.

    Thunder Bay, Ontario
    Matt King
  • Thunder Bay

    From documentaries to comprehensive promotional and educational videos, MorVision provides a wide range of professionally produced products.

    242 Court Street South
    Thunder Bay, Ontario
    Paul Morralee
  • Thunder Bay

    We offer affordable fly-in outpost camps, drive-in fishing camps, multiple fishing adventures, and remote moose hunting trips to meet your needs and budget.

    450 Cordingley Lake Rd
    Thunder Bay, Ontario
  • Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Timmins

    Airline offering direct flights from Downtown Toronto to Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Sault. Ste. Marie and Timmins.

    2 Eireann Quay
    Toronto, Ontario
  • Thunder Bay

    The Prince Arthur Waterfront Hotel offers the best location in the city overlooking Lake Superior and the vibrant Waterfront District. With fantastic views over the bay to Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, this large and charming hotel abounds with true northern hospitality.

    17 Cumberland St N,
    Thunder Bay, Ontario P7A 4K8
  • 698 Arthur St W,
    Thunder Bay, Ontario P7E 5R8
  • Thunder Bay

    Taxi service in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

    216 Camelot St
    Thunder Bay, Ontario
  • Thunder Bay

    ShebaFilms is a film production company based in Thunder Bay, Ontario. We focus primarily on documentary filmmaking, but we also produce fiction, commercial and educational films.

    25 High Street North
    Thunder Bay, Ontario
    Kelly Saxberg
  • Thunder Bay

    At Sleeping Giant Antiques, we promote the use of sustainable, beautiful decor alternatives using rich vintage pieces, antiques and heirlooms that will provide you with endless opportunities to repurpose and create beauty in your world.

    303 Victoria Ave. E.
    Thunder Bay, Ontario
  • Thunder Bay

    We partner with clients to create brand experiences that have meaning, relevance and deliver extraordinary value using modern video production, photography, web design, social strategy & distribution.

    8a Cumberland Street North
    Thunder Bay, Ontario
    Jason Spun
  • 277 Camelot St,
    Thunder Bay, Ontario P7A 4B3
  • Thunder Bay

    Film and video production company facilitating digital film acquisition (Arri, RED, Sony, Blackmagic).

    37 Stokes Street
    Thunder Bay, Ontario
    Tony McGuire
  • Thunder Bay

    We are first and foremost a film and video production company. Sound design, color timing, digital film acquisition (Arri, RED, Sony, Blackmagic,) production design and writing.

    37 Stokes Street
    Thunder Bay, Ontario
    Tony McGuire
  • North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Timmins

    The Uride app gives you safe, reliable, and affordable rides. With the lowest fares and quickest pickup times in your city.

    Multiple Cities, Ontario
  • Thunder Bay

    The Valhalla Hotel is perfectly situated for anyone traveling to Thunder Bay. Located just minutes away from the Thunder Bay Airport and near to some of the city’s main attractions.

    1 Valhalla Inn Road
    Thunder Bay, Ontario P7E 6J1
  • Thunder Bay

    Wasaya Airways LP is the leading quality provider of airline services in Northern Ontario. The airline has 25 destinations and four bases in Thunder Bay (Main Headquarters), Sioux Lookout, Pickle Lake and Red Lake, Ontario. Wasaya Airways provides air transportation for passenger, charter, and freighting requirements.

    201 Kelnar Pl
    Thunder Bay, Ontario
  • Thunder Bay

    A full-service video production company, focused on high-end commercials and inspired storytelling.

    139 Frederica Street West
    Thunder Bay, Ontario
  • Thunder Bay

    Wisk Air Helicopters has been supplying safe, reliable, trusted helicopter services across Canada for over 35 years. We are a family business originating in Thunder Bay, Ontario. We now have a network of 8 operational bases across Canada.

    520 Orville Wieben Cres.
    Thunder Bay, Ontario
  • Superior
    Landing
    Superior2
    Buidling
    Trowbridge Falls
    Kabeka
    Museum
    Mack Point
    Silver Harbour
    Peninsula
    Rope Bridge
    Sail Superior
    Marina
    Ride Lake

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