Stan Brown Benevolent Fund
The CMA Executive has approved grants of $200/member to cover necessities such as food and rent during this unprecedented time. These emergency grants are accessible by making a one paragraph application stating your need to Chairman Dick Worton at dworton@telusplanet.net or 403-239-7807. Applications are strictly confidential.
Petrillo Fund Financial Assistance
In response to the fast-moving events associated with the Coronavirus pandemic, we wish to remind local officers and AFM members of the availability of limited emergency financial aid through the AFM's Lester Petrillo Fund. The Fund was established to assist members-in-good standing who become ill or disabled and are unable to accept work. The following circumstances would qualify for assistance:
- A member is diagnosed with Coronavirus (COVID-19).
- A member tests positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19) and is quarantined.
Members and Local Officers may download Petrillo Fund applications here. Completed applications together with supportive medical documentation should be submitted by members to their local unions, which will then submit them to the Federation.
Actors’ Fund of Canada
Over the years many of our members have turned to the Actors’ Fund of Canada, which has been in existence since 1958. Now over 60 years after those visionary actors put $5 into a pot, the Fund they created disburses over $500,000 annually to cover necessities for members of all the many and various trades and professions that make up the entertainment industry, including musicians.
Common requests include:
- Rent or mortgage
- Grocery costs
- Medical costs
- Emergency dental costs
- Utility bills
- Dues (maximum of one year’s worth of dues; no initiation fees)
- Childcare expenses
Unison Benevolent Fund
This Fund is an assistance program created and administered for the music community, by the music community. Unison is designed to provide discreet relief to music industry personnel in times of personal hardship and crisis. www.unisonfund.ca
Government Support
Please check for updates and operational dates.
Provincial - available last week in March
https://www.alberta.ca/covid-19-supports-for-albertans.aspx
Federal - available April 1
Public Health
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html
Other Info
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-income-supports-covid19-1.5509247
https://cupe.ca/canada-emergency-response-benefit-qa
Calgary Arts Development
https://calgaryartsdevelopment.com/programs/covid-19-short-term-relief-funding/
Save Live Arts Initiative
For information on this initiative as well as the petition visit https://www.savelivearts.ca/
#CanadaPerforms Initiative
#CanadaPerforms is a $200,000 short-term relief fund that pays Canadian artists for their online performances. https://nac-cna.ca/en/series/canadaperforms
AFM Canadian Office
http://cfmusicians.org/resources/covid-19-resources
Vice-President from Canada Letter to Governments
Updates will be posted as they are received. Thank you and stay healthy.