At events across the country, Canadian Actors’ Equity Association celebrates 50 years
iPhoto caption: The Lula Lounge in Toronto. Photo by Sam Gaetz.
Canadian Actors’ Equity Association is marking its 50th anniversary with a slate of fall events across the country.
Equity represents nearly 6,000 professional artists working in opera, English-language theatre, and dance nationwide, advocating for fair wages, safe working conditions, and more.
The centrepiece of the anniversary celebrations is the presentation of Equity Life Memberships — the association’s highest honour — recognizing outstanding contributions to the Canadian performing arts. One recipient from each of Equity’s geographic and discipline-based regions will receive the designation.
The recipients are: Kent Allen (Saskatchewan), Jillian Rees Brown (Atlantic), Laurie Champagne (stage management), Micheline Chevrier (Quebec), Tracy Dahl (eastern opera), Donna Fletcher (Manitoba and Nunavut), Lorna Geddes (dance), John Koensgen (eastern Ontario and Outaouais), Doug McKeag (southern Alberta), Billy Merasty (Ontario), Wade Nott (western Opera), Maralyn Ryan (northern Alberta and Northwest Territories), and James Fagan Tait (British Columbia and the Yukon).
There are also three national awards. Equity presents the Larry McCance Award to former Equity Council vice president Donna Fletcher for her outstanding contribution to the association. The Emerging Artist Award, honouring exceptional artistic achievement early in an Equity member’s career, goes to Sophie-Thérèse Stone-Richards. And the Changemaker Award recognizes Deborah Williams’ leadership in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion across Canada’s performing arts sector.
“For 50 years, our members have been the driving force behind Equity and behind Canada’s performing arts community,” wrote council president Scott Bellis in a press release. “This anniversary is an opportunity to recognize the artists whose talent, leadership, and generosity have strengthened our profession, supported their colleagues, and helped build the association we know today. We are proud to celebrate these remarkable individuals and the lasting impact they have had on artists and audiences across Canada.”
To learn more about the honourees, click here. To learn more about the 50th anniversary events taking place across the country, click here.
Canadian Actors’ Equity Association is an Intermission partner. Learn more about Intermission’s partnership model here.
Liam Donovan
Liam is Intermission’s senior editor. He lives in Toronto. His Substack newsletter is available at loamdonovan.substack.com.
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