TORONTO, ON (April 7, 2026) – ACTRA Toronto is pleased to announce Rob Halpin has been appointed Executive Director, effective Monday, April 20, 2026. 

“On behalf of ACTRA Toronto, I am proud to welcome Rob Halpin as our new Executive Director,” says ACTRA Toronto President Kate Ziegler. “This is a pivotal moment for Canadian performers and the cultural contributions we make. Rob is a proven leader who understands that what is at stake goes far beyond the bargaining table. The work in front of us is about elevating ACTRA members as essential contributors to Canada’s cultural identity and sovereignty. As the threats facing our industry grow, so does our resolve. We look forward to working alongside Rob to protect and defend the 15,000 performers whose labour moves Ontario’s $2.6 billion film and television industry.” 

“I’m truly honoured to join the team at ACTRA Toronto as Executive Director. I’m excited at the prospect of working with a membership that makes such an extraordinary cultural and economic contribution to Canada. Let’s come together, activate and take charge. ACTRA Toronto members have already built a strong union, now it’s time to take it even further,” says Rob Halpin. 

Rob comes to ACTRA Toronto from the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL), Canada’s largest provincial labour federation, where he has spent the last 10+ years in various positions, including Director of Government Relations, Executive Director and, most recently, General Secretary. Rob brings extensive experience from across the labour movement, including through his work at the OFL where he led major campaigns and built broad coalitions among affiliates across the province. 

Rob has also been a Sessional Lecturer in the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities at Ontario Tech University since 2009, where he teaches courses on Political Science, Public Policy and Leadership and Administration. 

ACTRA Toronto is the largest organization within ACTRA, representing over 15,000 of Canada’s 30,000 professional performers working in recorded media in Canada. An advocate for Canadian culture since 1943, ACTRA is a member-driven union that continues to secure rights and respect for the work of professional performers. 

##

Media Contact: Jennifer McGibbon, Public Relations Officer, 416-642-6710, jmcgibbon@actratoronto.com