News & Events

Supporter Spotlight – Nora McLellan

“I developed a habit of giving to the Actors’ Fund of Canada as a young actor,” says long-time Actors’ Fund supporter Nora McLellan on the phone from her house in Niagara-on-the-Lake. “During the second week of rehearsals for a show I’ll usually say to the company ‘Instead of presents for opening night, I’m going to make a donation to the Actors’ Fund.’ Whatever you’re doing in the business, you can make giving to the Fund a part of your life.”

Distinguished Canadian performer Nora McLellan has been a supporter of the Actors’ Fund of Canada for many years. At home on both stage and screen, Nora started her career at the age of eight with the Vancouver Opera and has gone on to work with numerous theatres across Canada, including many seasons with the Shaw Festival, as well as roles on hit TV shows like Orphan Black and SyFy’s Killjoys. Nora is the Associate Artistic Director of Theatre 20.

We recently spoke with Nora about why she supports the Actors’ Fund of Canada.

“Originally I started supporting the Actors’ Fund because I wanted to help my colleagues suffering with AIDS. In about 1986 or ‘87 some friends/colleagues and I were discussing the terrible toll that AIDS was taking on our community and the idea of voluntary payroll donation came up. We got the Shaw Festival involved and helped to get other theatres participating in raising money for the Actors’ Fund of Canada through payroll donations. It was and is important to me to support those in need through the work of the Fund: you never know what’s around the corner for you or someone you care about.

I would also encourage regular donors to be vocal about your support for the Fund! The best way to create awareness is through word of mouth. For new donors, if you work in the theatre community ask your company about payroll donations or make an Opening Night Donation to the Actors’ Fund of Canada: it’s so important that we continue to help each other by giving to the Actors’ Fund.”

The Actors’ Fund of Canada thanks Nora McLellan for her continued support.

Nora McLellan (Photo courtesy of The Characters Talent Agency)

To make an Opening Night Donation click here.

To find out more about voluntary payroll donations click here.