Production Assistants
Reliable PAs and runners keeping your Canadian production running smoothly from Toronto to Vancouver.
Film production in Canada demands PAs who understand the local environment — from navigating Toronto's production infrastructure to coordinating logistics in Vancouver and beyond. Our production assistants know the vendors, the routes, and the protocols that keep Canadian shoots running on schedule. They handle everything from distributing call sheets and managing equipment to coordinating extras and running errands across the country.
We connect you with dependable production assistants through NeedAFixer's Canada network. Our PAs bring hands-on experience from features, commercials, and series shot across Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and beyond. Each PA arrives ready to support your crew with local knowledge, professional discipline, and the energy that long shooting days demand.
ACT 01
Capabilities
Complete PA Services
From set support to office administration, our production assistants provide the reliable help your production needs to operate efficiently.
01
Set PAs
- On-set support
- Lock-ups & crowd control
- Talent escort
- Walkie distribution
- General set assistance
On-Set Support
02
Office PAs
- Production office support
- Phone & communication
- Filing & organization
- Copying & distribution
- General admin tasks
Office Operations
03
Runners & Drivers
- Equipment pickups
- Catering runs
- Document delivery
- Airport transfers
- General errands
Logistics Support
04
Equipment Support
- Equipment loading
- Truck organization
- Gear distribution
- Inventory assistance
- Wrap support
Physical Support
ACT 02
Why Us
Why Choose Our Production Assistants
01.
Local Knowledge
Our PAs know Canada inside out — from Toronto studio complexes to location logistics in Vancouver and Montreal. They navigate local vendors, transport routes, and regional protocols so your production never misses a beat.
02.
Clear Communication
Native English-speaking PAs who communicate clearly with international crews and local vendors, ensuring nothing gets lost in translation on your Canadian production.
03.
Studio Familiarity
Our PAs know the major studio complexes from Pinewood Toronto Studios and Vancouver Film Studios to MELS Studios in Montreal and the Calgary Film Centre.
04.
Resourceful & Adaptable
When plans change — and they always do — our PAs solve problems on the fly. Whether it's sourcing a last-minute prop, finding an alternative route, or handling an unexpected vendor issue, they keep your Canadian production moving.
On Location
PAs from the Vancouver Film School, Sheridan, Ryerson, Concordia, L'Inis and CFC pipelines, bilingual EN/FR and IATSE-registered
Here is how the work lines up. Production assistants working through our Canada roster come out of the set student-to-set pipelines that have fed the industry for decades — Vancouver Film School, Sheridan College in Oakville, Toronto Metropolitan University (Ryerson) Image Arts, Concordia Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema in Montreal, L'Inis (Institut national de l'image et du son) in Montreal, and the Canadian Film Centre's residency programmes.
Many have already worked through commercials, episodic and feature credits before they hit our roster, and they know the difference between an IATSE 891 Vancouver call sheet, an IATSE 873 Toronto call sheet, an IATSE 514 Montreal call sheet, and the DGC PA pay-band that some story features use. We staff bilingual EN/FR PAs by default for any Quebec shoot, with crew who handle Cinémaginaire, Max Films and Sphère Média workflows in French while still able to brief a US studio producer in English. PA pools are deep across Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, Halifax and Winnipeg, with set relationships to keep them union-cleared, vaccinated to current standard, and ready to onboard inside twenty-four to forty-eight hours.
On a shooting day, our Canadian PAs drive lock-ups, walkie delivery, call-sheet handout, talent escorts, basecamp coffee runs, set-to-truck gear shuttles and the thousand small frictions that decide whether the schedule holds. They know the Distillery District Toronto pedestrian envelope and the Casa Loma loading-dock geometry, the Gastown Vancouver one-way grid and the Vancouver Film Studios Burnaby motor pool, the Old Montreal cobblestone restrictions and the Mile End production-corridor parking, the Calgary Stampede crowd-flow week, and the Halifax waterfront tide windows.
They run TTC subway and GO Transit handoffs when the unit moves out to Cinespace Brampton or Pinewood Toronto Studios, route Translink buses for Vancouver location moves between Surrey and downtown, and STM Metro delivery from Mile End to Old Montreal. We match PA experience to the role — key positions get senior PAs with feature credits and union clearance, while general support deliberately develops the next intake from VFS, Sheridan, Ryerson, Concordia, L'Inis and the CFC, keeping the talent pipeline healthy and the day rate honest.
ACT 03
FAQ
PA Department Expertise
What do production assistants do on a Canadian set?
PAs provide essential support across all aspects of production — from set lockups and talent escort to equipment handling and office administration. In Canada, they also help navigate local logistics, vendor relationships, and location-specific requirements that international crews may not be familiar with.
Do your PAs speak English?
Yes, all our PAs are native English speakers who communicate clearly and professionally with international crews. They also understand Canadian industry terminology, local vendor relationships, and regional logistics to keep your production running without communication issues.
What are typical working hours for PAs in Canada?
Shooting days in Canada typically run 10-12 hours under provincial labor regulations. Union productions follow IATSE guidelines for overtime, turnaround times, and meal penalties.
How quickly can you staff PAs?
For planned productions, we recommend booking 1-2 weeks ahead. However, we maintain relationships with reliable PAs across Canada for last-minute needs and can often staff additional positions with 24-48 hours notice.
Do you provide overnight or weekend PAs?
Yes, we staff PAs for all schedules including overnight shoots, weekend work, and split days. Canadian productions operate under provincial labor standards and union agreements (IATSE, ACFC), with structured overtime and mandatory turnaround periods.
What experience do your PAs have?
Our PA roster ranges from entry-level professionals eager to learn to experienced PAs with multiple feature credits on Canadian productions. We match experience levels to your needs — key positions get experienced PAs while general support can develop newer talent.
Related Services
Related Support Roles
ACT 04 — On Set
Need Production Assistants?
Tell us about your production and we'll provide reliable PA support.