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.
To mark the occasion of Equity's 50th anniversary, Honours will be awarded in each of our 13 regions, presented at a local anniversary event in fall 2026.
Nominate an Equity member in your region for the 2026 Honours!
Nomination Deadline: April 6th 2026
Select your region below to complete the nomination form:
The categories for the 2026 Equity Honours include:
Life Membership – Awarded to an Equity member in recognition of their artistic achievements throughout their career.
Emerging Artist Award – Awarded to an Equity member who joined within the last three years, in recognition of their outstanding artistic contributions early in their career.
Changemaker Award – Awarded to an Equity member in recognition of their efforts to further the values of diversity and inclusion in the performing arts.
Larry McCance Award – Awarded to an Equity member or former staff in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the Association and its membership.
Honorary Membership – Awarded to a non-member of Equity who has made an outstanding contribution to the Association and/or its members, or to the performing arts.
List of Past Honorees
Awarded to an Equity member in recognition of their artistic achievements throughout their career.
- 1975 — Jane Mallett
- 1976 — Herman Geiger-Torel, Hamish Robertson, Herbert Whittaker
- 1977 — Mervyn (Butch) Blake, Dora Mavor Moore, Dennis Sweeting
- 1978 — Robert Christie, Gratien Gelinas
- 1979 — Sam Payne, Arnold Spohr
- 1980 — Paul Kligman
- 1982 — Donald Davis
- 1983 — Lois Smith
- 1984 — Amelia Hall
- 1986 — Maureen Forrester
- 1987 — George Luscombe
- 1988 — Jean Gascon, Barry Morse
- 1990 — Jack Merigold
- 1991 — Dan MacDonald
- 1993 — Evelyn Hart
- 1994 — Douglas Campbell
- 1995 — Joy Coghill
- 1996 — Jean-Louis Roux
- 1997 — William Hutt
- 1998 — Antony Holland, William Needles
- 1999 — Lotfi Mansouri
- 2000 — John Neville
- 2001 — Frances Hyland
- 2002 — Tony Van Bridge
- 2003 — Tibor Feheregyhazi
- 2004 — Doreen Brownstone, Irving Guttman
- 2005 — Gordon Pinsent, Charmion King
- 2006 — Malcolm Black, Henry Woolf
- 2007 — Jackie Richardson, Gordon Tootoosis
- 2008 — Lloy Coutts, Bernard Hopkins
- 2009 — Martha Henry, Nora Polley
- 2010 — Elsa Bolam, Grant Reddick
- 2011 — Thomas Peacocke, Joyce Doolittle
- 2012 — Evelyne Anderson, Marti Maraden
- 2013 — Philip Akin, Janet Irwin, Kenneth Welsh
- 2015-2016 — Ted Follows, Jennifer Phipps, Kathryn Shaw, Greg Wanless
- 2017-2018 — Bill Millerd, Chick Reid
- 2020 — Judith Forst, Mary Morrison, Christopher Newton
- 2022 — Victoria Bertram, Stephen Heatley, Elley-Ray Hennessy, Stan Lesk
- 2024— Clare Coulter, Kelley McKinlay, Edward Roy, David Warrack
Awarded to an Equity member who joined within the last three years, in recognition of their outstanding artistic contributions early in their career.
- 2002 — Philip Sarsons
- 2003 — Lucia Frangione
- 2004 — Michael Scholar Jr.
- 2005 — Skye Brandon
- 2006 — Carson Nattrass
- 2007 — Andrew Kushnir
- 2008 — Kawa Ada
- 2009 — Donna Soares
- 2010 — Bethany Jillard
- 2011 — Judy Wensel
- 2012 — Mayahuel Tecozautla
- 2017-2018 — Ryan G. Hinds
- 2024 — Lior Maharjan
Awarded to an Equity member in recognition of their efforts to further the values of diversity and inclusion in the performing arts.
Awarded to an Equity member or former staff in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the Association and its membership.
- 1982 — Burnard Chadwick
- 1983 — Peg Harmon
- 1984 — Vernon Chapman
- 1986 — Dan MacDonald
- 1987 — Sandy Webster
- 1988 — Walter Massey
- 1990 — Helen Simpson-Baikie
- 1991 — Barbara Chilcott, Desmond Scott
- 1993 — Kenneth Wickes
- 1994 — Araby Lockhart
- 1995 — Christopher Marston
- 1996 — A. Frank Ruffo
- 1997 — Jeff Braunstein
- 1998 — Patricia Carroll Brown
- 1999 — Richard Hurst
- 2000 — Winston Morgan
- 2001 — Ron Haney
- 2002 — John MacMaster
- 2003 — Jane Heyman, Garry Goddard
- 2004 — Terry Tweed
- 2005 — Brenda Kamino
- 2006 — Sharon Bakker
- 2007 — Daphne Goldrick
- 2008 — Louis-Marie Bournival
- 2009 — Barbara Gordon
- 2010 — Susan E. Wallace
- 2011 — Sandy Winsby
- 2012 — Dawn Obokata
- 2013 — Don Wright
- 2020 — Douglas Irons, Allan Teichman
- 2024 — Lynn McQueen
Awarded to a non-member of Equity who has made an outstanding contribution to the Association and/or its members, or to the performing arts.
- 1980 — Norma Springford
- 1982 — Tom Patterson
- 1983 — Dorothy Somerset
- 1984 — Laura Legge
- 1985 — Art Eggleton
- 1986 — Pauline McGibbon
- 1987 — Heather McCallum
- 1990 — Nicholas Goldschmidt
- 1991 — Floyd S. Chalmers
- 1993 — Brian Paisley
- 1994 — David and Edwin Mirvish
- 1995 — Keith Kelly
- 1996 — David Spencer
- 1997 — Walter Carsen
- 1999 — David and Margaret Fountain
- 2000 — Margaret Mooney
- 2001 — Kathleen M. Richardson
- 2002 — Andis Celms
- 2003 — Jacqueline Shumiatcher
- 2004 — Dr. Martha Cohen
- 2005 — Wendy Lill
- 2006 — Cherry Karpyshin
- 2007 — Tomson Highway
- 2008 — Derrick Chua
- 2009 — Susan Benson
- 2010 — Frank Glenfield
- 2011 — Don and Della Greer
- 2012 — Martha Lou Henley
- 2013 — Gail Asper
- 2015-2016 — Barbara Fingerote
- 2020 — Charles Huband
- 2024 — Zelda Dean
The Equity Award of Distinction was created for Council to express appreciation on an occasional basis. It may be given to an organization, individual, or group of individuals (excluding current staff), in recognition of a significant contribution benefiting the Equity membership.
- 2011 — Dancer Transition Resource Centre
- 2013 — Stage Managing the Arts (SMArts)
- 2017-2018 — The AFC
- 2018-2019 — Lisa Brown, Workman Arts Theatre
- 2020 — Diana Bentley, Kristin Booth, Patricia Fagan, Hannah Miller
Past Honours Events