As an eligible voter in the National Commercial Agreement (NCA) referendum, you were emailed a voting information package from ACTRA National on August 25.

As we were preparing for negotiations this past spring, we heard in focus groups and through member surveys about the need to improve terms and conditions and options that would help create new work opportunities for ACTRA members.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Commercial work, with very few exceptions, stopped. As with the film and television side of our work, the impact of COVID-19 on the advertising industry has been substantial.

As the industry carefully starts up again, our priority is the development of health and safety protocols and policies for audition and work environments to help the industry reopen and get performers back to work. We are also working with the Engagers and industry partners on identifying steps to ensure greater representation of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour in the advertising industry.

Faced with the impact of COVID-19 on the industry, we have agreed to extend the current collective agreement by one year to focus on recovery and the positive steps we can take in our agreement to create and improve work opportunities.

Your ACTRA Toronto Council voted unanimously to support the ratification of the tentative agreement that extends the terms and conditions of the NCA for a year without any changes or concessions.

If you have not already done so, read the Memorandum of Agreement and vote.

Voting closes at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, September 14, 2020.

Learn more about referendum voting procedures. If you have any questions, please e-mail us.

Members of the Creative Arts Savings and Credit Union are invited to an information session and a special members meeting about exciting changes that will improve financial services for the entertainment industry.

Information about the meetings was mailed to CASCU members and is available on the CASCU website.

For the last 15 years, ACTRA Toronto members have gathered together at our fall conference to participate in professional development workshops, listen to panels and attend a plenary session with guest speakers from the industry and members of the ACTRA Toronto Council. Well, this year isn’t like other years but that doesn’t mean we can’t get together virtually.

• Celebrate new ACTRA Life Members Jani Lauzon and Jackie Richardson
• Hear from guest speaker, Nathalie Younglai, founder of BIPOC TV & Film, on efforts across the industry to challenge anti-Black racism
• Ask questions of our panel of performers about getting back to work with new COVID protocols in place
• Catch up on the latest news from the Union

The ACTRA Awards in Toronto recognize exceptional performances in TV, film, shorts, web-series including low-budget and member-initiated films.

The categories are Male, Female, Male Voice and Female Voice.

Is there a performance by a colleague from last year that you think ought to be recognized?

A conversation about money during the pandemic

Does money feel especially stressful and uncertain right now? Afraid to look in your bank account? Feel like you don’t know how long your money will last?

Register for our latest Financial Literacy session! In Basics of Managing Money as a Performer during COVID-19, ACTRA members Chris Enns (Certified Financial Planner) and Emily Nixon (both of Rags to Reasonable) walk you through the basics of overall money management and their application to life in the pandemic.

A FREE live session open to all ACTRA Toronto members in good standing (including Full Members, Apprentices and AABP members).