Our History

ACTRA’s very foundation is based on a strong collection of voices demanding fairness and respect in the workplace. In the 1930s, the CBC broadcast live, daily episodes of locally written, acted and produced drama into living rooms across the country making Canadian performers household names along the way. The pay and working conditions, however, were far from fair. Paid only “a dollar a holler” for a few days of work, Canadian performers took things into their own hands and organized the first “union-style” collective in 1941: Radio Artists Societies formed in Montreal – the “RAMS” – and in Toronto – the “RATS.” In 1943, collectives in Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver formed a loose national coalition – Association of Canadian Radio Artists (ACRA) – after realizing a stronger voice could be found with bigger numbers. Today, ACTRA has some of the strongest performer collective agreements in the world covering work in film, television, digital media, videogame and commercial production and has nine branches across the country representing professional performers coast to coast to coast.

Today, ACTRA has some of the strongest performer collective agreements in the world covering work in film, television, digital media, videogame and commercial production and has nine branches across the country representing professional performers coast to coast to coast.

Current links:

ACTRA celebrating 75-year anniversary. Youtube video.
ACTRA Magazine. 75-year annivesary issue.