The Local has been established and exists by virtue of a Charter issued on January 1, 1990 by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Machine Operators of the United States and Canada, hereinafter called “the Alliance”, and pursuant to the Constitution of the Alliance.

The jurisdiction of the Local is Western Canada, being the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Yukon, and Northwest Territories of Canada. The jurisdiction of the Local is divided into regional districts: British Columbia District, including the Yukon, and the Prairie District, including the Northwest Territories.

The Local is dedicated to the principles of trade unionism. Its object is to unite all workers within its jurisdiction for the following purposes :
  1. To improve their wages and hours of work, to increase their job security and to better their working conditions.
  2. To advance their economic, social, cultural and creative interests.
  3. To establish peaceful and harmonious relations between its members and their employers, and to increase the stability of the industry.
  4. To attain full employment.
  5. To promote and support democracy and free trade unionism.
  6. To engage in such activities as may be necessary or proper to strengthen the labour movement and extend the process of collective bargaining throughout all trades and industries.

Any person applying for membership in the Local must be of legal age and be a citizen of Canada or be a Permanent Resident, eligible to work in Canada.

The applicant shall be of good moral character and reputation and shall not be a member of an organization of dual character or of an organization, the interests of which are adverse to those of the Local or the Alliance, or its equivalent. The applicant shall furnish proof of having been engaged in or show the background to be capable in photography of any nature related to motion pictures and video recording. In addition the applicant shall comply with all the terms and conditions of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Local and of the Alliance regarding their membership, including application, initiation, and financial obligation.

The membership of the Local shall consist of the following job categories:
  • Motion Picture Technicians
  • Director of Photography
  • Camera Operator
  • Steadicam Operator
  • Aerial Operator
  • Underwater Cameraperson
  • Underwater Assistant
  • 1st Camera Assistant
  • 2nd Camera Assistant
  • Still Photographer


Video/Electronic Department
  • Electronic Director of Photography
  • Electronic Camera Operator
  • Motion Picture Video Coordinator
  • Motion Picture video Assistant 1
  • Motion Picture video Assistant 2
  • Special Equipment Technicians

  • Remote Head Operator
  • 360 Degree Imagery
  • Teleprompter
  • Motion Control
  • Digital Imaging Technician
  • Publicists

Every application for membership must be made upon the official printed form supplied by the Alliance to the Local. If the applicant is not a Canadian Citizen, a photocopy of their Landed Immigrant papers must be included. The application form shall also be accompanied by a photocopy of their WHMIS card (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System), and a current resume.

If applying for the category of Director of Photography or Camera Operator please refer to the requirements for membership for more detail on what is required. Wherever possible, references from members of the Local should be included. Each application must be accompanied by an application fee which shall be fifty dollars ($50.00) over and above the International Application fee (to be returned if the application is rejected) and such processing fee as may be determined by the Local. The processing fee is not returnable. False statements shall cause immediate refusal and forfeiture of all monies.
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