Special Ceremony Held in Los Angeles

November 15, 2005 - Los Angeles - Recognized Canadian actor, producer, director, writer, and activist Tonya Lee Williams was honoured today with the ACTRA Award of Excellence. ACTRA National President Richard Hardacre presented the award to Ms. Williams during a special afternoon reception at the Canadian Residence of the Consul General of Canada, Alain Dudoit.

"Ms. Williams' dedication not only to her craft but to her colleagues and her country is truly inspirational. While her career has taken her to Los Angeles, she has remained actively committed to building a strong industry in Canada, one that is representative and inclusive of the country's rich diversity," said Mr. Hardacre.

"I was completely surprised, deeply touched and honoured, when I learned I would be receiving this prestigious award. I became a member of ACTRA in 1978, it's been a significant part of my life for almost three decades, and continues to be," said Ms. Williams. "I now sit on the ACTRA Diversity Committee and applaud the wonderful initiatives and strides ACTRA has made in the areas of diversity; support of low budget projects, and its efforts to better grow and sustain our ever growing Canadian entertainment industry and the actors who are the life force of it."

Ms. Williams enjoyed a successful career in Canada before moving to Los Angeles in 1987 where she appeared on shows such as Hill Street Blues, Matlock, Gimme a Break, What's Happening Now, and movies including Disney's The Liberators, A Very Brady Christmas, Spaced Invaders and Hearts of Fire. Ms. Williams is best known for her starring role as Dr. Olivia Winters on the daytime drama The Young and The Restless, which has earned her two NAACP Image Awards and two Emmy nominations.

In 2003, she founded the Toronto-based Wilbo Entertainment and produced the Tonya Lee Williams Gospel Jubilee, which aired on CBC and garnered a Gemini nomination. In 2004, Ms. Williams made her directorial debut and executive produced a pilot for Vision TV, Kink in My Hair, based on the nationally acclaimed play and picked up by Vision and CBC.

Ms. Williams is a relentless activist with a deep commitment to building a stronger, more independent Canadian film and television industry that reflects the country's rich diversity. She is Founder and President of ReelWorld Film Festival and Foundation, and was recently appointed by Mayor David Miller to the Toronto Film Board.

ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) is a national organization of professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. ACTRA represents the interests of 21,000 members across Canada - the foundation of Canada's highly acclaimed professional performing community. ACTRA celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2003.

-30-

Media Contact:

Carol Taverner, Public Relations Officer, ACTRA
(416) 642-6751  - ctaverner@actratoronto.com

Roz Wolfe, Senior Advisor, Canadian Consulate General
(213) 346-2777  - roz.wolfe@dfait-maeci.gc.ca