dr. rita shelton deverell named actra “woman of the year”

dr. rita shelton deverell, contract lecturer in the faculty of education (orillia), has been named 2018 actra national woman of the year.

actra (alliance of canadian cinema, television, and radio artists) is the union of more than 23,000 professional performers working in english-language recorded media in canada, including television, film, radio, and digital media. their “woman of the year” award is given annually, in conjunction with international women’s day, to an actra member who uses her passion to support her fellow female actra members and women within the industry.

“it is a totally energizing surprise to have this wonderful honour from my fellow canadian media artists drop out of the sky,” said dr. deverell. “international women’s day marks a great moment for me, like actra, to keep on keeping on, with relevant and delightful art, social justice, and equity for the under-represented.”

dr. deverell has worked as an academic, broadcaster, television producer, journalist and theatre artist, and has received numerous awards, including two geminis and the black women’s civic engagement network leadership award. she was appointed to the order of canada in 2005 for her pioneering work in broadcasting, and received an honorary doctor of humane letters at the orillia lakehead convocation ceremony last june.

(photo credit: pierre maravel)