Walk of Fame inductee Tatiana Maslany celebrated in 'Hometown Stars' event

Regina born actor receives recognition at home WATCH: Tatiana Maslany received recognition on home soil while also giving back to the community. Hallee Mandryk reports.

Award winning actor Tatiana Maslany unveiled her “Hometown Star” in an event in Regina on Wednesday, courtesy of Canada’s Walk of Fame.

Family and friends of the Regina born actor, in addition to a sizeable crowd, gathered within Hotel Saskatchewan Wednesday morning for the celebration.

“This is so, so surreal,” Maslany said, addressing the crowd.

“It means so much to me to have all of you in this room. I can't believe the people that I get to see today … I could not have found the love of performing, or the skills, or the fortitude against rejection, or whatever it is – without this community.”

Maslany was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2022. The event in Regina is courtesy of an initiative which allows inductees a chance to celebrate their induction in their hometown.

The initiative also allows for the “Hometown Star,” a commemorative plaque, to be mounted at a unique location of the inductee’s choosing.

In her remarks, Maslany thanked the Do It With Class Young Peoples Theatre as well as those who supported her in Regina’s artistic community.

“I'm so grateful to see all of you. You really did form the artist that I am today, and I wouldn't be here without you,” she said. “And I'm so grateful that you can make this community thrive and that you continue to teach the next generation and inspire them and challenge them and introduce them to new forms and new ways of seeing things.”

As part of the induction process onto Canada’s Walk of Fame, each inductee receives a $10,000 donation to a charity or cause of their choice.

Maslany chose Lulu’s Lodge as her beneficiary. The five-bedroom facility acts as a transitional home for LGBTQ2S+ youth facing homelessness and is operated by the John Howard Society of Saskatchewan.

During the hour long event, the audience heard from guests such as Dan McDonald, Maslany’s high school drama teacher, and Tanya Young, the director of operations south at the John Howard Society of Saskatchewan.

“At Lulu’s, we offer food security, pro-social activities, access to gender affirming health services, independent living skills, employment skills, legal name changes. But most importantly, we offer safe and inclusive housing and a sense of belonging,” Young explained.

According to Young, over half of the youth assisted by Lulu’s are there due to family rejection. Since 2018, the lodge has provided housing to 46 youth and operates at a 92 per cent occupancy rate.

The organization does not have any core operational funding.

“That is why this donation today is so important,” Young said. “Tatiana, I have no idea how you found our little house, but I'm so grateful that you did.”

Maslany highlighted the lodge during her remarks, thanking them for the support work they provide.

“I'm so grateful to Lulu’s Lodge for what you do for this community. For making a space of safety for 2SLGBTQ youth and for giving them the resources that they need to make a life for themselves,” she said.

“The life they dream of. The life they deserve. That is everything and I'm so grateful to you for that.”

Born in Regina, Maslany graduated from Dr. Martin Leboldus High School and went on to perform at Regina’s Globe Theatre from 2003 to 2007 in several stage productions.

She gained a Golden Globe nomination and a Primetime Emmy Award for her portrayal of multiple characters in five season science fiction thriller series Orphan Black.

She has also appeared in productions such as Heartland, Being Erica, and Perry Mason.

More recently, Maslany made her Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) debut, playing the title role in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.