Canadian Musician - November/December 2017 | Page 10

INDIE
INSIDER
A Lifeline
for the Canadian Music Industry
The Unison Benevolent Fund Is There for You
By Michael Raine
W
hen Hill Strategies Research released its 2014
Statistical Profile of Artists and Cultural Workers in
Canada, it was little surprise that artists (musi-
cians, authors and writers, directors, choreog-
raphers, etc.) are significantly more likely to be
self-employed than the wider labour force. Over half of artists are
self-employed compared to between 11 and 15 per cent of the
general labour force, according to the report. That has significant
consequences for the music industry, making folks in it more
vulnerable, which is why the Unison Benevolent Fund was so des-
perately needed.
“Unison was founded in 2011 when an accident befell a very
well-loved community member in the industry and it sort of
brought into focus that really, there is no safety net within Canada.
Over 61 per cent of the Canadian music industry is self-employed
and that’s really great - it’s that entrepreneurial spirit that makes our
industry so wonderful - but we have nothing to help our people
when they need it most,” says Amanda Power, development man-
ager for Unison.
Started by Catharine Saxberg, then executive director, and Jodie
Ferneyhough, president of CCS Rights Management, Unison offers
professional counselling and emergency financial assistance to
members of the Canadian music industry during times of need. Who
qualifies as a member of the music industry is very broad. “It’s any
role within the industry,” says Power. “You can be the musician, the
songwriter, the performer on stage – those are the ones that come
to mind first – but really, it’s the producers, the publishers, it’s pub-
licists, the merchandisers. I often say you can be the bus driver on
the tour and you would qualify because you’re earning your income
from supporting Canadian music.”
The counselling service, which has been available since 2011,
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is provided through a partnership with Morneau Shepell. Done by
phone or online with accredited professionals, the counselling ad-
dresses a very wide range of topics, which Unison says includes, but
is not limited to, mental health support, managing relationships and
family life, finding child and elder care resources, legal advice, finan-
cial guidance, workplace challenges, tackling addictions, improving
nutrition, and focusing on health.
The second service offered by Unison is emergency financial
assistance, which was launched in 2015. “The way that works is
whatever the situation that has come up – so if the person is un-
able to work due to illness or whatever challenges life has thrown at
them – we’re there to support them to get through that situation. So
we provide things like grocery gift cards for food, medical assistance
– a lot of dental surgeries we help cover – and rent. A lot of people,
the first thing, unfortunately, is the rent needs to get paid and they
Unison Development Manager
Amanda Palmer