The literature competition, Canada Reads was on the CBC recently. The book debate show got on the topic of Canadian artists building careers, and sometimes finding fame, only once they’ve crossed the border south to the US. This got me thinking about all of those for whom that rung true: Justin Bieber, Ryan Gosling, Sandra Bullock, Steve Martin, Mike Meyers, and so many more. It’s not only huge stars; many friends and dancers I’ve worked with have left the country looking for, above all else, work. This issue is relevant for most types of artists.
I moved to Europe for a while. I wasn’t making the big bucks, but at least I did not need a second or even a third job – unrelated to my craft – to make ends meet. Canada is plagued by many symptoms for this talent ‘brain drain’ with a cocktail of reasons and excuses that lead to nowhere. I refuse to believe that we are any less talented than our neighbours to the south or our cousins across the Atlantic.
Then I came across an interview with actor Jay Baruchel. Having shot to stardom in Hollywood, he never forgot his roots. He still lives in Montreal and continues to make films here. He recently starred in the movie The Trotsky, a hilarious and proudly Montreal film that garnered stellar reviews. He explained why he chooses to continue making films here by saying: “ I without a doubt think that this is the best country that the world has come up with so far, so why wouldn’t I want to make movies here?”
We can continue pointing fingers at where we think things have gone wrong. But the only thing that we can do to inspire any progress is to support our Canadian artists and the works of art that are still produced here. As artists, we create every day. So why not create a demand?
