Toronto, ON (January 31, 2015) — Canadian performers are honouring Jason Priestley with the 2015 ACTRA National Award of Excellence on Saturday, January 31, 2015, at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. The Award recognizes an ACTRA member’s career achievements and contribution to fellow performers and the Canadian entertainment industry.

“Canadian actors unite in their praise of Jason Priestley’s vigorous, extraordinary creative body of work on both sides of the camera,” states Ferne Downey, ACTRA National President. “His commitment to Canada, to Canadian television and film is boundless. He has shot in nearly every province and his high-energy, engaging commitment to telling great stories makes us love him and laud him. ”

This past year Jason won a Canadian Screen Award for “Best Comedy Actor” for his role as Fitz on Call Me Fitz. His numerous acting credits include Beverly Hills 90210, How I Met Your Mother, Without a Trace and Psych. Jason’s directing credits include the feature film Cas & Dylan, the documentary Barenaked in America and television series The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Haven, Rookie Blue and Saving Hope. Jason was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, and worked in Canada as a child actor with guest appearances on 21 Jump Street and Quantum Leap.

ACTRA began presenting this award in 2004 to recognize a Canadian performer who has not only demonstrated excellence as an artist, but who has also made an outstanding contribution to our Canadian entertainment industry. The Award has previously been presented to Leslie Nielsen, Lloyd Bochner, Tonya Lee Williams, Kiefer Sutherland, Sandra Oh, Eugene Levy and Bruce Greenwood.

ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) is the national union of professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. ACTRA represents the interests of 22,000 members across Canada – the foundation of Canada’s highly acclaimed professional performing community.

-30-

Media Contact: Carol Taverner: ACTRA, Tel: 416-644-1519, ctaverner@actra.ca