Now before anybody jumps to the conclusion that I'm saying this just because I don't live in the game developement regions of Canada, I will clarify that I live right outside the gaming capital of the world the city with the most game developers per capita to any ther location on the Earth.

Now that thats out of the way I'm going to start giving my opinion and looking into your opinions. Are game companies concentrating too heavily on certain parts of Canada and leaving vast regions of talent un tapped? To prove my point I will be refering to the second largest Gaming epicenter in Canada (Montreal) and talking about just how Montreal's talent is being sapped dry. Is it worth studios money to invest in a city with already so many studios.

UbiSoft really started the trend when they decided Canada was the perfect country to set up some new developement studios. They placed studios in largely two areas B.C Canada and Quebec. Of course being a french company Montreal seemed the perfect location to set up shop. So UbiSoft founded acclaimed developer UbiSoft Montreal in where else but Montreal Quebec the single french dominated province in Canada. After the studio was founded it has shipped nothing but gold to the market place and has become a legend among publishers and gamers alike.

 EACanada

After UbiSoft's success in Quebec and Montreal EACanada realized they were missing out big time on one of the most artistic communities on Earth. So EAGames stole a couple employees from UbiSoft Montreal head offices by giving them superior offers. Then proceeded to build EAMontreal to directly compete against UbiSoft Montreal. EAMontreal is now a pretty big hit maker as well ranking as one of EA's best offices.

Eidos Montreal

The latest  in major publishers to invest in Montreal is none other then European mega publisher Eidos. Eidos has openned a studio recently called Eidos Montreal it currently has a staff of over 40 members and is working on the next critically acclaimed Deus Ex game. Eidos Montreal is expected to become one of Eidos biggest assets in the near future and drive Eidos move into the rest of Canada.

Now Eidos, EA and UbiSoft aren't alone other prominent studios from Foundation9 and many other publishers/developers have set up shop in Montreal lately. Now that isn't even all the same thing happened in Vancouver BC and EA is renewing investment hiring another sum 500 employees starting a couple years ago. You've got UbiSoft, EAGames , RockStar , Nintendo and many many many other studios in Vancouver the game developer capital of the world. Then you've got heavy investment in Ontari another prime location yeilding hits with Nintendo , Sony , Koei , RockStar and many other publishers having invested heavily their.

Now you'd think I'd be over joyed to live in such a gaming hyper center. I am but I just look at the untapped potential of the Prarie provinces and wonder just how much more great locations could be utalized. I mean yes I love all the investment in my area but I can't help but feel sorry for all those game developers looking for work in Winnipeg or Calgary/Edmonton.

Sure theirs BioWare and a few other prominent prarie developers but wouldn't it be smart to avoid competition?  I mean rather then bunches all of the developement studios togetherin three main Provinces (BC/Ontario/Quebec) how about all of the other potential. What happens when studios have hired all of the possible staff in these great provinces will they seek investment in the rest of Canada or will they stick to the artistic capitals of Canada.

Is it smart to invest so heavily in a single city like Tornto , Vancouver , Montreal or is it smarter to move further away from your competition in hopes of hiring some untapped talent? 

The reason they are investing in those cities so much: Tax breaks. Those cities, as far as I know, are trying to attract video game publishers, as well as movie makers to produce their wares in the cities, by offering tax breaks and incentives to be there. That can be a huge boon as to why they're doing that

Given the relative sizes of Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto compared to Winnipeg, Edmonton and Calgary, I'm not surprised in the least that companies have preferred the former.  There are just larger talent pools there, and since they have become centers for game development interested people with that talent in the prarie provinces would probably move to the east or west to find quality work opportunities.