Welcome to Early Music Society of the Islands

Victoria, B.C., Canada

The Society is currently in its 27th concert season

• Box Office Services
• Brochure Requests, General Inquiries
• Contacts for Artists, Agents & Media
• Information Links for Guest Artists
  (Taxes, work permits, travel info, venue info)

Box Office, ticket orders and related inquiries to:

EMSI Tickets, Subscriptions and Memberships
c/o McPherson Box Office
#3 Centennial Square, Victoria BC V8W 1P5
Ph: (250) 386-6121 / Fax: (250) 361-0805

Brochure requests, general information inquiries

contact EMSI at (250) 882-5058 or
info@EarlyMusicSocietyoftheIslands.ca

Contact for Artists / Agents & Media

Artistic Director
Early Music Society of the Islands
1067 Victoria Ave.
Victoria, B.C.
V8S 4N9
E-mail: joy@uvic.ca
Media may send a copy of their inquiry to: info@EarlyMusicSocietyoftheIslands.ca

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Information Links for Guest Artists

1. Travel & tourism
Victoria is a popular destination for visiting artists, who praise its charm, friendliness and scenic beauty. To make the most of your stay, visit http://www.tourismvictoria.com for ferry & coach schedules, air links, local dining, attractions, etc. The Society's host hotel, Executive House Hotel, is located near the Inner Harbour in the heart of Victoria's tourist district. From the hotel, it is a 5-minute drive or 15-minute walk to the concert hall. NOTE: There are many good restaurants in downtown Victoria but most do not stay open as late as restaurants in large cities (although local pubs are open late). If you wish to dine out after the concert, it is wise to confirm in advance that the restaurant of your choice will provide a late dinner. The Hotel staff can advise you of some dining options.

2. Concert Venue
Technical information about Alix Goolden Hall is available at the Victoria Conservatory of Music web site. Technical requirements can be discussed with the Society's artistic director or with the venue bookings manager (send e-mail to bookings@vcm.bc.ca)

3. Work Permits
In most cases, US citizens and permanent US residents can apply for work permits upon arrival at a Canadian port of entry. Applicants should bring appropriate documentation, such as a letter from the event organizer, or a copy of the contract. The procedure normally takes only a few minutes. Nationals of other countries who think they may need work permits should contact their nearest Canadian visa office or call Citizenship and Immigration Canada at 1-888-242-2100.

4. Non-resident Income Taxes (Regulation 105)
If you are a non-resident ARTIST OR AGENT you may have to pay tax on the income you earn in Canada. The person or organization directly paying you for your services must withhold a percentage of the gross payment and remit this amount to the Canadian government as a withholding tax -- currently, 15%. See below for information on how to apply for a waiver or reduction of the tax witholding.

The tax payment made on your behalf will be reported on a tax information slip (T4A-NR) and submitted to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) with a copy to you. You can expect to receive this tax slip before February 28 of the next calendar year following your performance in Canada.

The tax witheld is not necessarily the exact amount of tax you owe to Canada. As a non-resident who received income for services you rendered in Canada, you may be required to report your Canadian income to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). By filing a Canadian income tax return, with all T4A-NR slips provided, you can determine your actual Canadian tax liability. If your country of residence has a tax treaty with Canada, the tax you pay in Canada may be treated by your country of residence as a tax credit on foreign earned income. You should consult with the tax office in your country of residence for advice in this regard.

Applying for Tax Waivers / Reductions

If you believe that your total Canadian tax liability for the year will be less than the amount to be withheld, you can apply to the CRA to reduce or waive the withholding tax.

• You or your agent must file an application no later than 30 days before the first contract payment is due.The CRA Regulation 105 Waiver Application form is available at this link:
  
  
  http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/tf/r105/README.html
• The application should be sent to the Canadian Tax Services Office closest to the event location. For events occurring in Victoria, the application should be submitted by fax to:
  
  
  Victoria Tax Services Office
  1415 Vancouver Street
  Victoria BC Canada V8V 3W4
  Fax: 250-363-8188.
• The decision about your application will be given in writing to the event organizer, prior to the event, stating whether all or part of the withholding tax has been waived.

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