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IATSE Members Tackle COVID-19 by Giving Back

IATSE members are more accustomed to working behind the scenes, but COVID-19 has seen them stepping out from the shadows, all across Canada.

Their costume members were perfectly positioned to dive into all of the sewing required to make masks, gowns, and scrub caps. Stitchers in Edmonton, Vancouver, Calgary, Regina, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, and many other cities have partnered with organizations that need their skills.
Some of the beneficiaries are medical institutions like Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal and Michael Garron Hospital, while others are organizations like Creative Options Regina (COR), which supports adults and youth with intellectual disabilities, or Agape House in Steinbach, Manitoba, which assists women and children experiencing domestic violence.
A group of Montreal-based IATSE members even started their own group, called Cinémask, with workspace and majority funding provided by IATSE 514. Their masks are distributed free of charge to those in high-risk situations in Montreal, with priority being given to healthcare and community settings.

Members across the country doing similar work with 3D printers. In Victoria, Vancouver, Ottawa, Stratford, and Kitchener, IATSE members have offered up their skills and equipment to and joined like-minded groups. These members 3D-print components like headbands and face shields, and even “ear savers” that medical masks can attach to, which helps the irritation behind the ears caused by the extraordinarily long times masks are now required to be worn.

On the west coast, IATSE 669 member Luke Campbell has partnered with Teamsters Local 155 to deliver meals to Vancouver’s hungry. Luke took the reins by reaching out to community orgs, and soon more Local 669 members got involved as Meals on Wheels relief drivers. He was teamed up with non-profit Potluck Cafe Society to supply the Downtown East Side for their SRO (single residential) buildings and began coordinating logistics for delivering up to 1,700 meals per day. What started as a request for a 1-ton cube truck on weekends morphed into IATSE 669 taking the lead at setting up and operating the meal distribution centre. Teamsters 155 arranged industry pricing and Luke secured five trucks from Discount Car and Truck Rentals Vancouver. William F. White International provided equipment and Panavision Vancouver provided a pallet jack & loading dock ramp. The organizing team at the distribution centre is now made up of even more entertainment industry workers delivering meals, driving, and taking logistical roles. To date, these amazing volunteers, with the approval of the City of Vancouver, have helped move more than 50,000 meals through the distribution centre. If that weren’t enough, they’ve now partnered with Potluck Café Society for another initiative. They’ve added two more volunteers, and are doing a dinner service of 400 meals for the homeless!

The entertainment industry is full of people with big hearts and big skills, and we’re so proud of how many of them have stepped up to offer them.

This activity report was very generously put together and provided by Krista Hurdon, IATSE International Representative.
Photos courtesy of IATSE Canada.