From the Stratford Festival to the screen: a life of Canadian craft

Wars & Conflicts · Published 17 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Janet Wright was a cornerstone of Canadian performance, moving seamlessly between the prestige of the Stratford Festival and the warmth of national television. Her career was defined by a commitment to the stage, spanning decades of theatre direction and acting across the country.

Born in England in 1945, Wright became a foundational figure in Canadian theatre. The Persephone Theatre company was established in Saskatoon during 1974 by her and her sibling Susan. Her professional reach was vast, encompassing over 40 productions at the Vancouver Arts Club Theatre, where she served as both an actress and a director for contemporary American works like 'Disgraced'.

Wright broke significant ground in the 1990s. She acted within 'Les Belles-soeurs' at the Stratford Festival in 1991, then became the initial female lead for Toronto's Canadian Stage in 'King Lear' by 1995. Her versatility earned her a Genie Award in 1992 for the film 'Bordertown Café' and a Gemini Award in 2003 for her dramatic work in 'Betrayed'.

While she achieved fame as Emma Leroy in the sitcom 'Corner Gas' from 2004 to 2009, her legacy is also one of profound personal resilience and philanthropy. After the tragic loss of her daughter, Rachel Davis, in 2004, Wright and her second husband, Bruce Davis, established the Rachel Davis Foundation. The organization honors the spirit of her daughter by awarding young people aged 17 to 23 who demonstrate exceptional acts of compassion.

Beyond the spotlight, Wright was a scholar of the built environment. She authored academic works on Canadian architectural history, including studies on the Second Empire style and the history of public works architecture between 1867 and 1967. This dual life as an artist and a historian underscores a career dedicated to documenting and interpreting Canadian identity.

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