By Jon Scarr
The Entertainment Software Association of Canada’s (ESAC) annual Video Games on the Hill event took place in Ottawa on September 22. It brought Canada’s game industry together with parliamentarians, government officials and public servants. Canadian studios also demonstrated Canadian-made games during the event.
ESAC director of policy and government relations Josh Logue outlined four areas discussed at the industry roundtables. They included competitiveness, talent development, commercialization and safety. MPs met studio representatives, tried games and discussed the future of Canada’s game industry. Before September 22, ESAC had not confirmed whether industry meetings or game demonstrations would return in 2026. Both did.
After the event, ESAC president and CEO Paul Fogolin announced another change. The organization will become Video Games Canada later this year. In a LinkedIn post after Video Games on the Hill, he also raised the idea of developing a National Video Game Strategy for Canada.
Industry Roundtables Covered Competitiveness, Talent and Safety
MP Fares Al Soud organized a roundtable with Parliamentary Secretaries David Myles and Wade Grant. Canadian Heritage committee member Tatiana Auguste, MP Jake Sawatzky, and advisers Darren Choi and Salam Samara also took part.
Public servants from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Canadian Heritage, Public Safety Canada, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police joined industry roundtables.
Logue connected Canada’s long-term competitiveness with investment, economic growth and attracting talent. That outlook also included helping Canadian-made games reach audiences outside Canada.
In a LinkedIn post after Video Games on the Hill, Fogolin explained why ESAC brings members to Parliament Hill. He described it as a chance to build relationships and strengthen decision-makers’ understanding of the game industry. His post also focused on making the economic, cultural and creative contribution of video games better understood.
Marc Miller spoke at the reception. He is Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages. ESAC reported that MPs from across parties attended the reception.
Canadian Studios Brought Games Directly to MPs
Canadian studios brought their games directly to MPs during Video Games on the Hill. Interactive Ontario is Ontario’s not-for-profit trade association for video games and interactive entertainment. It named Ubisoft Toronto, Electronic Arts, Behaviour Interactive and Ravine Studios among its members taking part.
In a LinkedIn post after the event, Electronic Arts’ Kelsey McLaren said EA demoed FC and NHL at the Video Games on the Hill reception.
Behaviour Interactive said parliamentarians tried games and spoke with the studio about the future of video games in Canada. Behaviour used the event to talk about its Quebec roots and described itself as Canada’s largest independent game studio.
Gameloft Montreal took part and described conversations about innovation, growth and talent development. Behaviour’s booth featured Dead by Daylight branding. Gameloft Montreal’s display featured Disney Dreamlight Valley: The Storybook Vale.
Epic Games was represented in Ottawa by Paula Karol Pinha. In her own LinkedIn post, Pinha said she was proud to represent Epic Games alongside her ESAC colleagues. Fogolin later thanked her for contributing to the conversations at Video Games on the Hill.
ESAC Plans Rebrand and Raises National Video Game Strategy
ESAC is preparing for a name change. Fogolin announced that the organization will become Video Games Canada later this year.
In his LinkedIn post, Fogolin wrote that the new name better reflects the industry ESAC represents and where the organization wants to go next. He also called for a conversation about developing a National Video Game Strategy to build on the sector’s strengths and contribution to Canada.
Fogolin’s LinkedIn post didn’t outline what a National Video Game Strategy would include. It also gave no timeline for that discussion. He didn’t provide an exact date for the Video Games Canada rebrand beyond later this year.
For now, ESAC’s confirmed next step is adopting the Video Games Canada name later this year.
Jon Scarr
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