News

December 26, 2022 - Join us online on Monday, January 23rd at 6:30 p.m. (ET) as ARCS (Authentic, Radically Curious Support) co-creators Tahirih Vejdani and Amelia Sargisson, along with trained ARCS facilitators Derek Kwan and Giovanni Spina, discuss the value of creating a Community Agreement and provide you with a template for creating your own. Read more...

To attend, please register here.

December 20, 2022 - Equity is pleased to announce that the 2022-2025 Vancouver Opera Agreement (VOA) is now available for download here.

The revised terms and conditions, in effect retroactive to July 1, 2022, demonstrate significant improvements in the areas of fees and scheduling, added provisions for the engagement of intimacy directors, as well as a stronger commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in the industry. Read more...

December 20, 2022 - Equity invites you to join us online for Conflict Resolution/De-escalation on Monday, January 16th at 2:00 p.m. (ET), a workshop designed to help artists gain a practical understanding of how to manage conflict in the creative process and de-escalate a situation in the workplace. Read more...

To attend, please register here.

December 15, 2022 - With the new year not far off, Equity has decided to extend the current members’ insurance plan with Crawford & Company for one additional year. This means that members will experience no change in their insurance coverage in 2023.

Information on the Crawford & Company plan is available on Equity’s website here. We encourage members to check out the video recording of the Insurance Town Hall to see what was discussed and learn more about your insurance as well as other options available to you. Read more...

December 12, 2022 - Equity is pleased to announce the ratification of the Vancouver Opera Agreement (VOA), negotiated with the Vancouver Opera. The ratified terms of the VOA take effect retroactively from July 1, 2022 and will remain in place until June 30, 2025.

The changes demonstrate significant improvements in the areas of fees and scheduling, added provisions for the engagement of intimacy directors, as well as a stronger commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in the industry. Read more...

December 9, 2022 - Equity is pleased to announce that the 2022-2025 Les Grands Ballets Agreement (LGBA) is now available for download here.

The revised terms and conditions, in effect as of July 1, 2022, include valuable additions to health and safety standards as well as minimum fee increases of 2% in each year of the Agreement and a 2% increase to all other monetary amounts. Read more...

December 6, 2022 - Equity is pleased to announce that the 2022-2025 Canadian Opera Agreement (COA) is now available for download here.

The revised terms and conditions, in effect as of July 1, 2022, demonstrate significant improvements in the areas of fees, safety, and scheduling, as well as a stronger commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in the industry. Read more...

December 6, 2022 - While the worst of the pandemic appears to have passed, it is important to acknowledge that COVID-19 will continue to be present in our communities for the foreseeable future. As such, we are pleased to share an updated version of our COVID-19 Workplace Guidelines & Protocols.

For any questions about the workplace application of these protocols, email an Equity Business Representative at busrep@caea.com. Read more...

We are pleased to announce that a recording of the 2022 National Annual General Meeting (NAGM) is now available here. 

If you missed this year's NAGM, we hope you enjoy watching the video and learning about what plans your Association and its Council have been working on! 

December 3, 2022 - Each year we commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) on December 3rd. The theme for this year’s IDPD is innovation and transformative solutions for inclusive development.

Celebrate IDPD this year by checking out the resources made available by Tangled Art + Disability. Read more...

December 2, 2022 - Join us in congratulating the recipients of the 2022 Honours Awards with a special video presentation!

For nearly 50 years, the Equity Honours have recognized members and other industry professionals, acknowledging their outstanding contributions to our industry, our Association, and our craft. While we can’t be together in-person to celebrate these wonderful artists, we are ecstatic to be able to celebrate them, nonetheless. Read more...

December 1, 2022 - Equity is pleased to announce the appointment of Ron Kennell to Equity Council as a representative of the Ontario region. An Equity member for nearly 30 years, Ron is a performer and director working in theatre, film, TV, video games and commercials.

His appointment comes following Ruby Joy’s decision to resign, having recently accepted a position with ACTRA as a National Advisor.

Please join us in welcoming Ron to Equity Council and feel free to reach out to him at ronk@caea.com. Read more...

November 29, 2022 - We are pleased to announce that a recording of Considering Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDIB) in Your Work, a workshop designed to help both artists and engagers understand the importance of valuing EDIB in creating and producing cultural work, is now available.

Visit our youtube channel to check out this video and other workshops in our professional development series. Read more...

November 22, 2022 - Following a very busy year of bargaining that included the renegotiation of six agreements and updating of the Dance, Opera, Theatre Policy, the negotiation schedule for 2023 is already shaping up. 

Equity members who have worked under an agreement or policy listed below are encouraged to contribute to the negotiation or review process. Your experience working under these agreements is invaluable to the negotiation process in determining what advancements are needed. Read more...

November 17, 2022 - Equity is pleased to announce the ratification of the Canadian Opera Agreement (COA), negotiated with the Canadian Opera Company. The ratified terms of the COA take effect retroactively from July 1, 2022 and will remain in place until June 30, 2025.

The changes demonstrate significant improvements in the areas of fees, safety, and scheduling, as well as a stronger commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in the industry. Read more...

November 14, 2022 - Equity is pleased to announce a successful conclusion to negotiations with the Vancouver Opera. Ratification of the Vancouver Opera Agreement (VOA) will commence November 21, 2022 for all Equity members eligible to vote on the proposed changes.

Information on this ratification vote will be available at www.caea.com (members only) once the ratification period commences. The deadline to vote is December 12, 2022 at noon PT. Read more...

November 7, 2022 - At its online meeting on October 31, 2022, Council amended Bylaw 39 and 40. These amendments came at the recommendation of a Council working group recently struck to consider the qualification requirements for dues remission under Equity’s Constitution & Bylaws. Read more...

November 4, 2022 - Equity believes in the right of all workers to bargain collectively for fair wages and working conditions. We stand in solidarity with @CUPEOntario and other Canadian labour organizations in their condemnation of the Ontario government’s attack on their constitutional rights.

November 2, 2022 - November 2nd marks World Ballet Day! Join Equity as we reflect on and applaud the incredible work of ballet professionals across the globe. 

Celebrate this year’s World Ballet Day by tuning into World Ballet Day Live for an insider’s view into the top dance companies around the globe – including our very own National Ballet of Canada! This free live stream is a unique opportunity to see ballet’s biggest stars at work and an excellent way to recognize the tremendous contributions of our ballet community!

October 28, 2022 - Equity is pleased to announce that the 2022-2025 Opera Agreement (OPA) is now available for download here.

The revised terms and conditions, in effect as of July 1, 2022, demonstrate improvements in the areas of fees, safety, stage management, diverse representation under the OPA and more. Read more...

October 25, 2022 - October 25th is World Opera Day! We thank all of the wonderful opera performers out there for the joy they bring to audiences, and for their exceptional artistry and dedication. 

In celebration of this year’s Opera Day, we’ve invited Equity Western Opera Councillor Rebecca Collett and Eastern Opera Councillor Gene Wu to share a few words on what this day means to them. Read more...

October 21, 2022 - Equity is pleased to announce a successful conclusion to negotiations with the Canadian Opera Company. Ratification of the Canadian Opera Agreement (COA) will commence November 1, 2022 for all Equity members eligible to vote on the proposed changes.

Information on this ratification vote will be available at www.caea.com (members only) prior to the start of the vote. The deadline to vote is November 17, 2022 at noon ET. Read more...

October 20, 2022 - As a member of the live performing arts community, Equity is pleased to invite you to participate in the CANCOM Comedy Symposium, a new initiative funded by Heritage Canada. This new national Professional Development Program for Comedy Artists & Workers is completely FREE! 

This is a unique opportunity to have a Canada wide platform for meaningful dialogue around the biggest concerns and questions that truly impact everyone in the comedy industry, no matter the stage of their career, with a goal of education and positive change. Read more...

October 18, 2022 - Equity is very pleased to announce the recipients of the 2022 Honours Awards! The Honours Awards recognize the outstanding achievements and contributions of Equity members and other artists in our industry. 

To learn more about the recipients and the EQ Honours Awards, click here.

October 3, 2022 - Equity is pleased to announce that the 2022-2024 Stratford Addendum is now available online for download here.

The revised terms and conditions, in effect retroactively as of January 1, 2022, include important advancements in the areas of protection, inclusiveness, finance, work-life balance, and digital media rights, in addition to general rate increases of 1.75% (retroactive to Feb. 1, 2022), 2.00% (effective Dec. 1, 2022), and 2.00% (effective Dec. 1, 2023). Read more...

September 30, 2022 - September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day, is intended to recognize and raise awareness about the history and legacy of the residential school system in Canada. Read more...

September 5, 2022 - September 5th is Labour Day! As an association that advocates for fair working conditions and work opportunities for artists engaged in theatre, opera, and dance, we recognize Labour Day by applauding the outstanding contributions of artists working in live performance. Read more.

August 31, 2022 - Equity is pleased to announce that the Association is the recipient of funding for two activities under the Canada Performing Arts Workers Resilience Fund (CPAWRF) provided by Canadian Heritage as part of its 2022-2023 budget. Read more... 

August 9, 2022 - Acknowledging the impact of the global pandemic and subsequent shutdown of the live performance industry, Equity will exclude the period of time from March 2020 to March 2022 in determining the three-year expiration date for filing fees credited towards the initiation fee, as per Bylaw 21 (A). Read more here.

July 28, 2022 - A friendly reminder to all Equity members and industry partners that Equity’s contracts were designed to be filled and signed using the free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader, available here for download. Read more here.

July 20, 2022 - Embroiled in a legal dispute with producer Garth Drabinsky over failure to meet his obligations on the project Paradise Square, as well as allegations of bullying, American Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) has added Mr. Drabinsky’s name to their “Do Not Work” list. Read more... 

July 8, 2022 - As the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) continues its labour dispute with the Institute of Canadian Agencies (ICA), Equity calls on our members to stand in solidarity with your fellow Canadian artists in their efforts to secure fair and equitable wages and working conditions for their work in commercials across the country. Read more here.

July 6, 2022 - Direct financial assistance is now available to support all of Equity's disciplines through several organizations dispersing funding from the Canada Performing Arts Workers Resilience Fund provided by Canadian Heritage.