Canadian Artists Stage Rally

TORONTO, October 9: In the wake of government funding cuts,
a range of writers, actors and other artists took to the streets of Toronto
yesterday to rally support for Canadian arts and culture, a few days ahead of
the general election on October 14.

Organized by ACTRA and the Writers Guild of Canada (WGC),
the rally took place at Simcoe Park beside the CBC Broadcast Centre in Toronto.

“Today we’re showing all parties that culture lives in
Canada,” said Rebecca Schechter, the president of WGC. “It’s 1.1 million
ordinary people doing millions of extraordinary things, but together we
generate tens of billions of dollars for the economy. We’re here to let all
Canadians know that they can vote with their hearts and their heads in this
election—by voting culture.”

ACTRA’s national president, Richard Hardacre, stated: “In
this federal election, the economic value of culture and the worth of creative
artists have not only come into question, they have come under attack. We’re
asking Canadians to find out which of their candidates are the strongest
supporters of culture, who will reverse the cuts to cultural programs, and who
will stand up for Canada’s creative and economic well-being.”

Among those that addressed the rally’s attendees were
screenwriter Suzette Couture (Conspiracy of Silence), performer/writer Mark McKinney (Kids in
the Hall, Slings and Arrows) and actor Eric Peterson (Corner Gas).

—By Mansha Daswani