About Us

Vancouver Musicians’ Association

For over a hundred years, Vancouver Local 145 of the Canadian Federation of Musicians has represented members throughout all of mainland British Columbia. We are the largest Musicians’ Association in Western Canada. Our mission is to fight for the interests and well being of the musicians employed in our jurisdiction. We do that by collective bargaining and by putting all of our members on a sound business foundation. The many benefits provided by Local 145 to our members help to ensure professional musicians receive fair treatment and fair wages for their services.

Our members include The Vancouver Symphony, The Vancouver Opera Orchestra, The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, The Prince George Symphony Orchestra, the Broadway Show pit musicians, the freelance musicians who perform in British Columbia’s many other musical venues, the jazz artists, hotel, club date and cabaret musicians, recording musicians, and the musicians in the rock, blues and contemporary music scenes.

We serve the province of British Columbia (except Vancouver Island and those islands included in the electoral districts of North Island, Comox, Nanaimo, Cowichan/Malahat, Victoria, Equimalt/Port Renfrew, Alberni and the Gulf Islands (these are the territory of Victoria Local 247) and the area known as the Columbia River Valley (this is the territory of Calgary Local 547).

Mission Statement

The only object of the AFM is to bring order out of chaos: to harmonize and bring together all the professional musicians of the country into One United Progressive Body.

Like the industry itself, the AFM is always changing. Its policies and programs will move in new directions dictated by its members. As a member of the VMA, you can determine the direction through your interest and involvement.

Your membership card is your franchise to participate in the governing of your Association to keep it responsive to your needs and enable it to serve you better.

History

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF MUSICIANS OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA

It all began with a convention in Indianapolis in 1896 that gave birth to the AFM, the first artists’ organization to demand, fight for and win a better deal for its members.

Today, The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada, AFL-CIO, CLC is the world’s largest association of performing artists. It currently consists of over 300 local unions throughout the US and Canada with a total membership numbering well over 100,000, and is recognized as a force in the industry that speaks with authority on behalf of professional musicians.

The Vancouver Musicians’ Association (VMA), with a membership of over 1,700 musicians, is the third largest local in Canada and one of the 300 Locals of the AFM.