After a historic second round, it was finally Tania Kontoyanni who was elected to head the Union of Artists (UDA). The actress collected 51% of the vote, once morest 49% for her opponent Pierre-Luc Brillant.
“I campaigned on the importance of communication with members and their mobilization. It is crucial that they feel more part of the UDA which represents them. This will clearly be my top priority at the start of my mandate, ”said the new president of the union in an interview on Friday, shortly following the unveiling of the results.
Of the approximately 8,578 active members of the UDA, approximately 30% voted between April 4 and 6 to choose who will succeed Sophie Prégent. A first vote took place between March 20 and 23, but none of the four candidates – namely Tania Kontoyanni, Pierre-Luc Brillant, Michel Langevin and Sylvain Massé – had obtained the simple majority (50% of the votes +1) necessary to win. Tania Kontoyanni and Pierre-Luc Brillant, who had respectively collected 32.9% and 32.4% of the votes, thus had to face each other in a second round, a great first in the history of the UDA.
“I would like to warmly congratulate Tania Kontoyanni on her election as President of the UDA and I promise to offer my full cooperation in carrying out the many projects that await us. Solidarity and mobilization”, commented on social networks Pierre-Luc Brillant, who will still occupy the seat of administrator on the Board of Directors of the UDA.
Experience
A graduate of the Montreal Conservatory of Dramatic Arts, Tania Kontoyanni works as much in the world of theatre, television and cinema. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Laval University. She joined the UDA board in 2017 and has been a member of the management committee as treasurer since 2019.
“What really set me apart was my experience at the UDA in recent years. I have a good knowledge of its operation as well as the files to follow. It made sense for me to propose my candidacy. I am a great trade unionist and I believe in the defense of artists, ”underlines Tania Kontoyanni. She also adds that she officially started the race following receiving several encouragements from people in the industry.
Like her predecessor, the new president intends to continue to exercise her profession as an actress during her mandate. “I can’t do without it, it’s a basic need for me, to be happy. I also see it as a way of being present in the field as president, to observe and understand the issues of each. »
New role for Sophie Prégent
Sophie Prégent, who had been president of the UDA for 10 years, announced last March her desire not to seek a new mandate. In interview with the Dutyshe had explained that it was time for her to pass the torch and that she did not want to “get embedded in her duties”.
She thus recently left office with the feeling of accomplishment, her reign having not been easy. Helping its members recover from the pandemic has been one of its greatest challenges.
She had nevertheless expressed her desire to remain on the Board of the UDA as an administrator. She was also officially elected in this role, in the actor-actress category, during the vote at the end of March.
The board of directors will meet in extraordinary session on April 12 to elect the members of the management committee, including the vice-president, the secretariat and the treasury.