Canadore Graduates Helping Shape Northern Ontario’s Indie Game Industry
May 21, 2026
From Classroom Creativity to Industry Success
Creativity, collaboration, and innovation are at the heart of Canadore College’s Game Design and Development program — and our graduates continue to prove that talent developed in the classroom can lead to exciting opportunities in the gaming industry.
Recent graduate Jesse Cotton is one example of that success. After completing the Game Design and Development program at Canadore, Jesse founded local independent game studio Sleepy Bears Indie and has already released the studio’s first title, HamSumo, on Steam.
Building Original Games Through Independent Development
Now, the studio is preparing for the launch of its newest project, Petaltone — a cozy and creative game experience built in Unreal Engine and featuring dynamically generated audio powered by MetaSound technology.
The project demonstrates the technical and creative skills students continue to develop after graduation, while also highlighting the growing opportunities within the independent game development industry.
Collaboration Beyond the Classroom
Petaltone also highlights the collaborative spirit that continues beyond graduation. Fellow Canadore graduate Christopher Labonte, known professionally as Chirstoff Arts, contributed art support to the game, showcasing the strength of the creative partnerships formed through the program.
The ability to collaborate across disciplines — from game programming and design to visual art and storytelling — is an important part of the learning experience within Canadore’s Game Design and Development program.
Supporting the Growth of Northern Ontario’s Game Industry
Seeing graduates build original games, support one another, and contribute to the growing independent game development scene in Northern Ontario is an exciting reflection of the opportunities emerging within the industry.
From technical development and sound design to artistic collaboration and production, Canadore alumni are helping bring new ideas to life while strengthening the local creative community in North Bay and beyond.
We are proud to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates as they continue to make their mark in the gaming industry.
Explore the Games
Check out Petaltone and support local game development by adding it to your Steam wishlist: Petaltone on Steam
You can also explore Sleepy Bears Indie’s first released title, HamSumo: HamSumo on Steam