Our History

Anyone familiar with the history of North American theatre in the 19th and early 20th centuries knows the horror stories — the exploitation of artists by unscrupulous managers and producers. Wages and working conditions were set unilaterally by producers, and a performer could easily find themselves stranded without pay in a one-horse town in the Midwest when either the producer went bankrupt or the manager vanished with the funds.

While the rise of trade unions in the United States helped establish some basic rights for artists, the same protections didn’t yet exist in Canada. It wasn’t until after World War II — spurred by the sudden proliferation of summer stock theatres, the launch of the Stratford Festival in 1953, and the founding of regional theatres — that Canadian stage performers began to feel a pressing need for stronger representation and protections.

With the continued growth of a Canadian theatre industry, the idea of an independent association — one in which Canadian interests were represented solely by Canadians—became increasingly important. A Memorandum of Accord was drawn up between AEA in the United States and the Canadian branch of Equity, outlining a process for separation, as well as a constitution and bylaws for a new, autonomous Canadian association.

In August of 1975, the Canadian membership voted on the Memorandum and it passed with overwhelming support.

After twenty-one years, on April 1, 1976, Canadian Actors’ Equity Association was officially formed.

Today, Canadian Actors’ Equity Association continues to serve its members by supporting, empowering, and advocating on their behalf. Through its participation in the International Federation of Actors (FIA), the Association is recognized globally as a leading voice for artists’ rights.

There have been ups and downs in Equity’s history. But through it all, Canadian artists have stood together — looking ahead, and always ready to ask, “Where do we go from here?”