Council Connect - February 2021
Hello!
As we come up on the one-year anniversary of the greatest challenge our industry has faced, I’ve been thinking a lot about the word "resilience".

Against all odds, some of us are waiting out the storm, some of us have transitioned away from performing, some of us have pivoted to online, and some of us are still figuring things out…however, all of us are still here.

That includes your national Council! We’ve stayed committed to helping members across the country navigate some big issues.
  • Equity Members across the country made their voices heard by the Canadian Government, who reversed their position on announced clawbacks to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) from self-employed recipients. Equity’s coalition partners IATSE, the Canadian Federation of Musicians (CFM) and the Associated Designers of Canada (ADC) successfully lobbied the government on this issue and we’re proud of the result!
  • The Stage Management Contract Issues survey recently closed with a (very good) 56% participation rate; thanks to Stage Management Councillors Melissa Novecosky and Erika Morey for their efforts!
  • The Western Office going virtual is indeed a bitter pill to swallow, but it was a decision made with a lot of input and perspective from the membership.
In December and January, the Canadian Theatre Agreement (CTA) was ratified by both Equity and the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT). As a member of the CTA negotiation team, I’m extremely proud of the Equity members who worked hard to make it to the finish line. Article 10, addressing Access & Inclusion, is new and I particularly hope members will take note. While the work of making industry-wide change never ends, I believe that when we return to rehearsal halls and stages, things will look and feel different, in part because of the time and commitment that went into shaping Article 10.
The June 2020 reckoning of inequities in our theatres allowed Equity members’ voices to be heard loud and clear, and I hear the echoes of them in Article 10. It’s something to consider this Black History Month. Of course, it’s also important that those who have been doing the work of inclusion and access are celebrated...so Equity joins with so many others in wishing Montreal’s Black Theatre Workshop (BTW) a happy 50th Anniversary! Under current Artistic Director Quincy Armorer, BTW is celebrating a historic record of Black Artistic Excellence: 1500+ artists hired over 140 productions that range from school tours to mainstage shows.
Photo: Courtesy of Black Theatre Workshop. Jenny Brizard and Omari Newton in BTW's production of Angélique in 2019.
Directed by Mike Payette / Credit: Andrew Alexander
The list of directors, playwrights, stage managers and actors that have been showcased reads as a list of some of Canada’s best artists. Plays like Lorena Gale’s Angélique have helped make BTW’s legacy a living one, and I think about the resilience it takes for a theatre company to make it 50 years. It’s inspiring any time, but especially during this particular Black History Month...as well as looking ahead.
As we continue to sail through 2021, there will be more tough decisions and more resilience required. None of this can happen without input, perspective, and communication from the membership, so please do not hesitate to reach out to Council members for assistance, guidance, or suggestions. Contact info for every Council member is here, and we continue to be here for you.
Yours in solidarity,
2nd Vice President
SAVE THE DATE: Mark your calendar for our next members' information meeting on March 3 which will be all about grassroots advocacy and making our industry's needs known to our elected representatives. More information is coming soon!
#EquityStrong