Montreal writer and showrunner Bruce Smith (pictured) has been elected as the next president of the Writers Guild of Canada (WGC).
Smith’s two-year term began on May 1 and runs until April 30, 2026. He succeeds outgoing president and WGC council member Alex Levine (Orphan Black), who joined the council in 2018 and served as president from 2021 to 2024.
Smith is best known as the creator and showrunner of CBC procedural Street Legal. He served as showrunner of the CTV series 19-2 for all four seasons and CBC police drama Cracked. His other work as a screenwriter includes Durham County on TMN and TV movie John A: Birth of a Country.
WGC executive director Victoria Shen said in a statement that Smith “brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for the craft,” calling him a “fierce advocate for screenwriters across the country.”
Amanda Smith (Travelers) has been elected as VP, succeeding outgoing council member and VP Marsha Greene (The Porter). Additionally, Michael Amo (Pure) was re-elected as treasurer.
Anne-Marie Perrotta (Big Top Academy) has also ended her term as a WGC councillor. Remaining council members include Jeremy Boxen (Killjoys), Anthony Q. Farrell (Shelved), Sarah Dodd (Cardinal) and Jason Filiatrault (Young Drunk Punk).
The council changes come on the heels of the WGC reaching a tentative agreement with the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) for a new Independent Production Agreement. The months-long negotiations made history at the Guild, both as the first time it had to bring in a mediator and the first time members voted to authorize a strike while bargaining.
The agreement has not been ratified by WGC members or the CMPA board of directors as of press time.
Photo courtesy of the WGC