Last week, my analysis of pan-Canadian statistics showed that arts, heritage, and entertainment organizations and businesses have been innovation leaders in Canada since the start of the pandemic. Among 16 industry groups, organizations and businesses in the arts, entertainment, and recreation were second most likely to have introduced an innovation in their products and/or processes since 2020 (37%), behind only the information and cultural industries group (41%). These percentages are much higher than the average for all industries (24%).

Today, I highlight statistics for each province and find that …

In every province, since the start of the pandemic, the rate of innovation in the arts, heritage, and entertainment has been above the provincial average.

In some provinces, the difference between the arts, heritage, and entertainment industry group and the provincial average is substantial. In other provinces, the difference is very small. Full details are provided below.

In addition to the statistics, I highlight a few stories of innovation in each region during the pandemic, based on our major research project released earlier this year.

Like last week, today’s statistics are based on the following question from a Statistics Canada survey of organizations and businesses with at least one employee, conducted between April 1 and May 6, 2022:

Since 2020, has this business or organization introduced any new goods or services innovations, or any new business process innovations?

An innovation must be new to this business or organization, but it does not need to be new to its market.

Select all that apply.

• Goods or services innovation: This refers to a new or improved good or service that differs significantly from the business's or organization's previous goods or services, with respect to its characteristics, functions or performance specifications and that has been introduced on the market.

• Business process innovation: This refers to a new or improved process that differs significantly from the business's or organization's previous business processes and that has been brought into use. Include innovations in distribution or logistics, marketing or sales methods, information and communication systems, strategic and general business management practices, or process related to product or business process development.

• Don't know

• None of the above

Note: “Arts, heritage, and entertainment” (which the survey refers to as “arts, entertainment, and recreation”) includes performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries (industry code 711); heritage institutions (code 712); amusement, gambling, and recreation industries (code 713).