Equity is the voice of professional artists engaging in live performance in English Canada. We are a national association representing almost 6,000 artists working in theatre, opera and dance from coast-to-coast-to-coast. Equity's membership includes performers, directors, choreographers, fight directors, intimacy directors and stage managers.
In recognition that the arts are vital to life and that artists make an invaluable contribution to our society, Equity supports the creative efforts of its members by seeking to improve their working conditions and work opportunities. We strive for fairness, integrity, collectivity and compassion in all our endeavours.
Equity negotiates and administers scale agreements and administrates engagement policies on behalf of our membership. Both scale agreements (negotiated by Equity with a producer or group of producers) and Equity's promulgated engagement policies articulate the minimum terms and working conditions required for the engagement of an Equity member.
The Association also provides members with benefit plans, information and support, and act as a vigorous advocate for the needs of our membership.
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Who is Working for the Members?
Equity serves its members with a National Office in Toronto, Ontario and a virtual Western Office in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The National Office oversees issues which affect the entire Equity membership and co-ordinates interaction with national and international cultural, labour and funding organizations. The membership, benefits, bonding and accounts receivable departments are located in this office. The National Office also deals with day-to-day matters in Eastern Canada, generally from Manitoba to the Atlantic region.
The Western Office deals with the day-to-day matters in Western Canada, including Alberta, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, the Yukon and Saskatchewan.
At the head of the Association is the Executive Director. The Executive Director is hired by Council and is responsible for board support and all staff operations. They liaise with other arts and cultural and, fraternal organizations, both national and international in scope. Negotiation of Equity's many unique scale agreements comes under the direct purview of the Executive Director.
Our Director of Finance and Administration manages the membership, benefits, contract entry, bonding and accounts receivable departments. They set the yearly budget; administer the members' insurance and RRSP plans as well as other financial aspects of the contracts, including membership and bonding.
Administration and enforcement of the Equity's agreements and policies is the responsibility of the Business Representatives. Business Representatives also assist in the negotiation of scale agreements and setting the term of promulgated engagement policies publically available to members and engagers. They are available for answering questions regarding the interpretation of Equity's agreements and policies and for representing members concerns with engagers. They ensure that the minimum terms of a member's contract meets the requirements of the specific agreement or policy in force and take action when this is not the case.
Communications is responsible for connecting members across the country to the Association and empowering them through information and education. Communications administers Equity's website, social media platforms, e-Drive (an electronic subscription mailing list for auditions, job opportunities), and publishes Equity's EQ magazine as well as Equiflash bulletins, news of interest to the Equity membership and live performance industry.