TORONTO – Award-winning actor, writer and singer Theresa Tova has been elected as the new president of ACTRA Toronto, succeeding David Sparrow. The president sits for a two-year term.
A member for over 30 years, Tova (pictured) has been active in the union since 1992, when she began her long-time work of protecting children in the entertainment industry. She was ACTRA Toronto's first Child Advocate, and under her dedicated stewardship, Ontario passed the Protecting Child Performers Act, which came into force last year.
Tova has held the post of ACTRA Toronto vice-president, internal for 10 years and is also currently serving as ACTRA National's treasurer and communications committee chair. She has been the executive liaison for the committees, caucuses and concerns of background performers, as well as the diversity committee, plus founded and continues to mentor ACTRA Toronto's senior committee, Act Your Age.
"This union has nurtured me, inspired me and allowed me to grow into a true arts and labour activist ready to seamlessly move forward on important files," said Tova, in an address to council.
ACTRA Toronto is the largest organization within ACTRA, representing more than 15,000 of Canada’s 22,000 professional performers working in recorded media.
