Founder

Tonya Williams O.C.

 

Tonya Williams O.C. started her career in Canada as an actress back in 1976.  Recently appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada, and inducted into the Canada’s Walk of Fame, Tonya is an award-winning actress, producer and advocate, best known for her roles in various television shows, including Polka Dot Door and her 19-year portrayal of Dr. Olivia Winters on The Young and the Restless. Throughout her career, she has received numerous awards, including the 2024 Changemaker Award from the Canadian Screen Award’s, two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Series, two Emmy nominations, 2023 Visionary Award from the Legacy Awards and many more.

 

Through her career Tonya has been one of the strongest voices pushing for EDIA changes in the Canadian screen industry and the importance of diverse Canadian content being created not only for a national market but an international one also.

 

In 2000,Tonya founded the Reelworld Film Festival, now known as Reelworld Screen Institute, and Reelworld Foundation to create opportunities and support the career development of Black, Indigenous, Asian, South Asian, and People of Colour in the Canadian screen industries. In 2020, she established Access Reelworld, which is Canada's largest searchable recruitment platform for Black, Indigenous, Asian, South Asian, and People of Colour creatives in the screen industries.

 

“We have a responsibility to create a more inclusive screen industry so that all Canadians can see themselves reflected in the stories we tell.” Tonya says often.

 

Tonya has been an advocate for government policy changes in the audio-visual sector.  Through discussions with Heritage Canada, Telefilm Canada, Canadian Media Fund, Ontario Creates, Canada Council for the Arts and others, she has helped bring much needed attention and understanding to the needs of the diverse media artists we support. This gave more insight to those who had the power to create much needed inclusion and access.

 

Tonya holds British, American and Canadian citizenship and resides in Los Angeles and Toronto.