The Unison Fund is open to all Canadian music industry professionals.
Certain financial programs and services may have additional eligibility requirements.

You can register to access Unison benefits here: https://unisonfund.ca/register

It’s free. Registering for Unison couldn’t be easier. No fees. No dues. Just fill in your information, hit submit — you’re done.

Registering for Unison provides access to counselling & health solutions, as well as resources to assist with the financial and emotional burden of unforeseen emergencies and illness, in three key areas:

Mental Health Services: Through confidential support services, eligible Canadian music workers can access qualified professionals, who are able to provide counselling and other resources to support individuals and their immediate family member.

Health Services: Financial support during medical emergencies and preventive services, such as dental and medical screenings, hearing clinics and assistance obtaining low-cost health insurance.

Human Services: Unison will provide emergency financial support to Canadian music workers recovering from an illness, injury or other circumstances that resulted in an inability to work, or severe economic or personal hardship. Support for basic living expenses, groceries, rent, and emergency medical situations, plus programs supporting senior services.

You can learn more about how we provide support at the links below:
Counselling & Health Solutions
Financial Support
Resources

Registering simply gives you access to our free counselling & health solution services and signs you up to our mailing list.

Applying for financial support is a separate step that requires you to meet specific eligibility requirements and provide additional information.

Unison’s Financial Support Programs are not intended to address needs created by long-term or recurring situations. It is expected that applicants will make reasonable efforts to seek other resources and opportunities, before coming to Unison.

This may include financial counselling, applying for government benefits, looking for work outside the entertainment industry, etc.

When financial support is provided by Unison, it is charitable in nature. At its sole discretion, Unison reserves the right to deny or approve financial support.

The Unison Fund currently offers five (5) financial support programs. All financial support programs require that you have earned at least 55% of your income from music.

Click on the following program(s) names to find out the guidelines & eligibility:

• Emergency Financial Support Program
• The Slaight Family Foundation Legacy Program
• Extended Therapy Support Program
• Grocery Gift Card Support Program
• Natural Disaster Relief Program

When financial support is provided by Unison, it is charitable in nature and therefore, before seeking such support, applicants are required to investigate all other possible sources of aid. Approved support is primarily paid directly to a creditor/third party. At its sole discretion, Unison reserves the right to deny or approve financial support.

Unison does not provide financial support for business-related expenses. If you are looking for work related support, please reach out to your local music provincial association for guidance on what funding is available both provincially and nationally.

Applicants to Unison’s Financial Support Programs must hold the following work statues to be eligible to apply:

• Canadian Citizen
• Permanent Resident
• Work Permit

Applicants must reside in Canada a minimum of 6 months out of the year and also:

• Have a Canadian bank account
• Pay Canadian taxes

Applicants must provide valid government-issued photo ID. 

When applicable, applicants must provide a copy of their work permit.

Multiple applications from the same applicant are allowed, and eligibility is assessed on a case-by-case basis depending on the specific program. However, annual and lifetime limits may apply based on the availability of funding.

Please note: Some programs, such as the Grocery Gift Card (GGC) initiative, currently allow only one gift card per applicant.

Industry Workers (e.g., agents, publicists, label/venue staff)

• CV, Bio or Resume
• Work history (list of employers and years)
• Letters of employment
• Client lists
• References

Educators

• CV, Bio or Resume
• References
• Description of courses taught and relevant years
• Letters of employment
• Professional website and social media accounts

In order to better illustrate your career, we do request that applicants send us professional social media accounts, websites, articles, tours/shows, etc. that help to illustrate your career in the Canadian music industry.

Here are some examples of what to send:

• Discography pages i.e. discogs.com, allmusic.com, etc.
• Professional official websites
• Electronic Press Kits (EPK’s)
• Business Instagram
• Facebook Page
• Bandsintown/Songkick link with past/upcoming dates
• Spotify (or other streaming service) verified artist profiles

Applications are reviewed by our Programs & Services team based on the stated priorities of the program and subject to available funds. If revisions are necessary, you will be notified in the portal and by email.

Please use the Notes section within the application portal to send messages to the Unison team.

1. Open your application at https://unison.smartsimple.ca
2. Look for “Notes” located in the left sidebar
3. Look for the note type, and select “Note To Unison Fund”
4. Click the + sign, type message and save.

Please also use this section to check for responses from the Unison team.

If you’re unable to use a computer, are having difficulty signing in or any other technical difficulties, or if you require accommodations related to a disability, please contact the Program Manager at 416-479-0675 ext. 106 or by email at assistance@unisonfund.ca.

Please login to your account here to modify the application in the “IN PROGRESS” section.

 Press “Save Draft” to save your progress. Once all required updates have been made, press“Submit  Revisions”. This will lock your application and notify Unison staff that your application is ready to be reviewed again.

Unison understands how important timely support is, and we aim to review and process applications as quickly as possible. Most applications are typically reviewed within 2–4 weeks, though this can vary based on the number of requests we receive and the complexity of your application. If we need additional details, responding promptly will help us keep things moving and get you an answer sooner.

When approved – what to expect

Once approved, you will be notified by email. Payment will not occur until you have reviewed and accepted the terms of your funding agreement in.

Please log back into the online portal here: https://unison.smartsimple.ca

• Click Pending Acceptance, in the Funding Agreements section.
• Click Open.
• Click “Funding Agreement.pdf” to download and review.
• Click “I agree” and then click Complete.

Payments will be issued directly to the verified vendors associated with your application, according to your specific circumstances.

Depending on the vendor’s preference, payment can be made via cheque, credit card, or direct deposit through our third-party provider, Plooto.

Plooto is a secure online payment system we use to send money directly to vendors, landlords, or service providers. If you’re approved for support, we’ll pay the confirmed vendor (like your landlord) directly.

When a payment is sent to you, you’ll receive an email from Plooto with the payment details and a secure link. Click “Accept Payment” to open the payment page, then verify your bank account using either:

• Instant Verification: Log in with your online banking credentials (fast and available for most major banks).

Future payments will be processed faster after your bank is verified.

Manual Verification: Enter your banking details manually (transit, institution, account number), which takes 1–2 business days. Once verified, confirm the payment and it will be processed in the next available window.

No Plooto account is required.

Do I need a Plooto account? No, you only need to verify your bank account.

How long does it take to receive funds? Typically, 1–2 business days after verification and acceptance.

Is verification required every time? No, once verified, future payments are faster.

What if I don’t receive the email? Check your spam/junk folder or contact Unison for assistance.

Is there a fee to accept payments? No, there is no fee for recipients.

No. Receiving government funding at any level does not affect your eligibility for Unison’s financial support, and accepting Unison support does not impact your ability to access government funding.

Unison funding is considered a charitable gift, so you are not required to report it as income on your tax return.

Unison does not issue tax documentation for financial support as Unison funding is considered a charitable gift. 

Unison’s Grocery Gift Card Program helps Canadian music workers facing food insecurity due to:

• The high cost of living
• Unemployment
• Underemployment

Applicants are required to have earned the majority of income from Canadian music industry for a minimum of 2+ consecutive years

• Are experiencing food insecurity.

Approved applicantscan receive a $500 grocery gift card, delivered either as a physical gift card by mail (7 – 14 business days) or a digital gift card by email (1 – 2 business days).

Gift cards are ordered through FundScrip, a third-party provider. Availability of grocery chains and card formats (physical or digital) varies by province and store policies.

Please note: Loblaws and Metro brands do not offer digital gift cards.

Currently, this is a one-time-only benefit.

To help reach more people, priority is given to applicants who have not previously received a Grocery Gift Card.

We appreciate your understanding as we work to support as many music workers as possible.

Contact the Program Manager: 416-479-0675 ext. 106 assistance@unisonfund.ca

The Emergency Financial Support Program is intended to support music workers facing an urgent, unforeseen or unexpected emergency, such as an eviction, an accident, a serious health diagnosis, a dental emergency, etc. The program is not available to those experiencing longer term challenges, such as underemployment or the high cost of living.

To be eligible, you must:

• Have worked in the Canadian music industry for at least 5 consecutive years or more.
• Be experiencing an emergency situation, such as:
  • Medical crisis
  • Job loss
  • Tour cancellation
  • Eviction
  • Other unexpected emergencies

Approved payments are primarily made directly to creditors or third parties, such as:

• Medical practitioners
• Landlords
• Mechanic etc.

Contact the Program Manager: 416-479-0675 ext. 106 assistance@unisonfund.ca

The Unison Extended Therapy Support Program offers financial support to Canadian music workers to help cover the cost of mental health support. If you already have a therapist and require longer-term or specialized care beyond what’s covered through Telus Health EAP services, Unison can help by paying your therapist directly, so you can focus on healing—not the bill.

This program aims to improve the mental wellbeing of Canadian music workers by reducing financial barriers to accessing therapy. Whether you’re an artist, crew member, producer, manager, or in another music role, Unison is here to support your mental health journey.

If you’re in need of short-term counselling, we encourage you to contact Unison’s Counselling & Health Solutions service operated by TELUS Health, available 24/7/365 at:

📞 1-855-9UNISON (1-855-986-4766) | More information is available on Unison’s website.

This program is available to anyone working in Canada’s music industry, including:

• Artists
• Songwriters
• Producers
• Managers
• Crew members
• Publishers
• Other music professionals

If you’ve worked in the music industry for at least 2 years, and earned over $10,000 from music-related activities over your career, you may be eligible.

To access Unison’s Extended Therapy Support program, you’ll need to have a therapist or counsellor in place before you can proceed with this application.

If you don’t have one yet, TELUS Health can help. Through Unison’s free counselling service, TELUS Health will assess your needs and provide a personalized list of community-based providers in your area who can offer longer-term care.

To get started, call 1-855-9UNISON (1-855-986-4766) or visit unisonfund.ca for more information.

• Direct payment to your therapist (no reimbursement hassle)
• Flexible use for ongoing or specialized therapy
• 100% confidential support
• Support for psychotherapy, counselling, psychiatry, or other recognized therapeutic services

Contact the Program Manager: 416-479-0675 ext. 106 assistance@unisonfund.ca

Unison’s Legacy Program supports veterans of the Canadian music community and those coping with chronic or unexpected illness, experiencing financial hardship, requiring ongoing or emergency medical care.

1. Complete the Emergency Financial Support Program eligibility form on the Unison portal
2. If eligible for the Legacy Program, Unison will contact you directly

If you need assistance with the application process, reach out to the Director of Programs & Services: 416-479-0675 ext. 107  assistance@unisonfund.ca

Unison’s Natural Disaster Relief Program offers direct financial support to Canadian music workers impacted by natural disasters.

To be eligible, you must:

• Evacuation-related expenses
• Have worked in the Canadian music industry for at least 5 consecutive years
• Earn the majority of your income from music

Have experienced a natural disaster resulting in:

• Loss of your primary residence
• Loss of personal belongings
• Loss of income

Approved applicants receive a one-time $2,500 direct support payment.You can use this financial aid however you need — it’s designed to give you flexibility during a crisis.

Create an account or log in to Unison’s online application portal

Complete the Natural Disaster Relief application

Contact the Program Manager: 416-479-0675 ext. 106  assistance@unisonfund.ca