President’s Message
July 4, 2025
Dear members,
For over a year, ACTRA Toronto has been aware of the loss of work not only to the ACTRA Toronto stunt community but across the Ontario film sector due to an issue with on-set underwater work. ACTRA Toronto knew that the antiquated diving regulations needed formal change – an appropriate change that would secure work for members and stave off reputational damage to the entire Ontario industry.
The impact of this issue was alarming. Sets were shut down and ‘forced’ out to film in other jurisdictions, or sometimes, an even worse impact with increased potential risk and/or injury to Performers in an area where they are most vulnerable.
After yet another disruption, the issue was clearly urgent.
Thanks to the amplification from the ACTRA Toronto Stunt Committee and staff who got to work rallying industry partners, and a few ‘Hail Mary’ passes that I am proud to have been involved in, ACTRA Toronto along with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) Film and Television Section 21 Advisory Committee got this regulation changed in record time.
Effective July 1, 2025, the Diving Operations Regulation (Reg. 629/94) has been amended under Ontario’s OHSA to formally recognize the screen industry (covering film, television, advertising, live broadcast, web-based and video game production). Previously, screen industry productions were subject to the same rules as commercial or industrial diving operations. This amendment means OHSA acknowledges and provides exemptions for the unique nature of diving in film/TV contexts, which often involve highly choreographed, shallow water and time-limited sequences.
None of this would have been possible without the support from the Hon. David Piccini, Ontario’s Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, and his staff, along with the Hon. Stan Cho, Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, who rallied around us with support. My gratitude to them cannot be overstated.
“As trained professionals, ACTRA Toronto Stunt Coordinators and Performers are the best people to prepare for and execute all on-set underwater work. With a 35-year-plus track record of successfully ensuring safety on set, we are grateful to the Government of Ontario for recognizing this value by amending the OHSA’s Diving Operations Regulation so the ACTRA Toronto stunt community can continue to do what we do best. This will help reinforce Ontario’s reputation of being one of the top filming destinations in the world.”
Jamie Jones & John Stead, ACTRA Toronto Stunt Committee co-chairs
What I am most proud to know is that through the efforts of ACTRA Toronto, FilmOntario, Ontario Creates, and the Film and Television Section 21 Advisory Committee, we made this meaningful regulatory change that will stabilize a seemingly small piece of the industry. However, this stabilization will have an impact that punches far above its weight class.
In solidarity,
Kate Ziegler
ACTRA Toronto President