Bow Valley College will soon be home to a state-of-the-art motion capture lab, thanks – in part – to a $195,000Applied Research Tools and Instruments (ARTI) grant.

The Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Industry Canada announced the college’s successful application for motion capture (mocap) technology funding, administered by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) through the College and Community Innovation (CCI) program.

The mocap lab, featuring technology used to record movements and apply them to a 3D model, will be an integral component of Bow Valley College’s new Digital Entertainment Nexus, previously known as the Calgary Entertainment Arts Production Hub.

“This innovative technology, combined with our plans for a virtual production studio, will be a unique offering in the Calgary region,” says Tanya McDonald, Dean of Applied Research and Centre for Entertainment Arts, Bow Valley College. “For creators and local companies doing research, the opportunity to use these technologies together expands the level of interactivity and creative freedom in media production and the study of human biomechanics.”

The addition of mocap technology fulfills a need for local talent and production companies in industries such as gaming, animation, film and television. It will also allow local sports teams to harness the technology’s potential in improving player performance.

Students enroled in Bow Valley College’s Centre for Entertainment Arts and the School of Technology will be trained on this cutting-edge equipment and will be actively engaged in innovative projects with industry partners.

“We are thrilled to receive the Government of Canada’s support in creating this dynamic lab,” says Michael Crowe, Vice President, Academic. “Along with funding from the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund, this NSERC investment establishes our Digital Entertainment Nexus as a place where applied research, training, industry innovation, and business acceleration converges.”

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Media Requests:

Shannon van Leenen, MA
Senior Media Relations Specialist
Bow Valley College
403-671-3274 Mobile
shvanleenen@bowvalleycollege.ca

About Bow Valley College 

Bow Valley College is the largest college in the Calgary area, with over 15,000 students. We open doors to in-demand jobs across Canada. Our graduates contribute to the economy and community through careers in business, entertainment arts, technology, health care, social services, and more. We are proud to be named one of Alberta’s Top 80 employers and one of Canada’s Top 50 research colleges. Our innovative applied research, focused on health and health technology, educational technology, and social innovation, is helping shape the future of college education. Learn more about the opportunities we create for students, employees, and our province at bowvalleycollege.ca.