Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT)

We are excited to announce that Pat Rundell is joining the PACT Board of Directors as the Chair of the Membership & Engagement Portfolio. Pat (he/him) lives, works, and imagines on the traditional lands of the lək̓ʷəŋən people, now known as Victoria, British Columbia, where he serves as the Artistic and Executive Director of Kaleidoscope Theatre for Young People. Pat brings over a decade of leadership and dedication to theatre, emphasising inclusivity, accessibility, and the transformative power of the arts. A passionate advocate for Theatre for Young Audiences, Pat previously co-chaired PACT’s TYA Caucus and was a member of PACT’s Advocacy Committee. He is now thrilled to be joining PACT’s Board of Directors, overseeing the Membership and Engagement Portfolio. In this role, Pat hopes to bring his energy and enthusiasm to help deepen connections within the theatre community, enhance opportunities for collaboration, and ensure that PACT continues to serve its members and the broader Canadian theatre landscape. In addition to his work with Kaleidoscope, Pat sits on the board of the Professional Arts Alliance of Greater Victoria and has previously served on the boards of the Victoria Pride Society and the Victoria Operatic Society. Throughout his career, Pat has been driven by the belief that theatre can spark meaningful connections, foster a sense of belonging, and inspire communities. He is deeply committed to using theatre as a powerful tool for storytelling, connection, and community-building, creating spaces where both artists and audiences can be inspired and feel a sense of belonging. Pat’s passion and dedication continue to shape his work, as he brings his energy, creativity, and leadership to every project, ensuring theatre remains a vital and transformative force within the community

Experience Live Theatre. Be part of the movement for connection and witness greatness on and off stage. Share your favourite theatre memory with us at experiencelivetheatre.com

There's still time to register for our next HR Corner on Social Media Policies! Designed and led by Dawnette Baldeo, this workshop will be presenting on "Social Media Policy: Balancing Organizations' Reputation and Employee Freedom", offering insights on how companies can create policies that protect their brand while respecting the personal expression of employees. Date: Wednesday November 13th, 2024 Time: 1pm - 2:30pm ET This is a free event with a maximum capacity of 35 attendees. Please register early to secure a spot. About Dawnette Baldeo MBA, CPHR, SHRM-SCP: Dawnette Baldeo is a seasoned Human Resources consultant with over 20 years of experience in HR management and strategy. She holds an MBA and brings a wealth of knowledge to the field of human resources. Dawnette specializes in developing innovative HR solutions that align with organizational goals and has a strong track record of helping companies navigate the complexities of workforce management. In her role as a consultant, Dawnette has advised a wide range of businesses on best practices in HR, including policy development, compliance, and employee engagement. With a keen understanding of the evolving digital landscape, she is particularly passionate about educating organizations on the importance of well-structured social media policies. Her presentations are known for being informative, actionable, and tailored to the specific needs of her audience. Please register for the event by Tuesday November 12th to receive the zoom link. If you have any questions, or would like to join the waitlist, reach out to info@pact.ca. Register now: https://lnkd.in/gKr699H8

In case you missed it, we launched the Experience Live Theatre campaign! Share your favourite theatre memory with us in the form on our website at experiencelivetheatre.com !

PACT Town Hall - November Thursday, November 14, 1pm ET on Zoom Free for Members & Non-Members PACT Town Halls are free and open to managers, artistic leaders, producers, administrators, and anyone else working in the Canadian performing arts – whether or not your company is a PACT Member. Our ongoing Town Hall sessions explore the many pressing issues in Canadian theatre today, including pandemic recovery, anti-racism work, accessible practices, mental health initiatives, and our sector's response to the climate crisis. Each session features updates from the PACT staff and board, insights from invited guest speakers, and opportunities to connect with your colleagues and hear about their work. Please register by 12:30pm ET on the day of the Town Hall to ensure that you can join. You will receive the Zoom connection information by email from PACT within 24 hours of the meeting's start time. Register now: https://lnkd.in/g5Q_9eE3

We're hosting a Board of Directors 101 session led by the Cultural Human Resources Council Wednesday November 6th, 1pm - 3pm ET. on Zoom Free for Members & Non-Members Boards of Directors (BoD) exist for good reason. Sometimes they don't work as well as we'd like. Does everyone know what their role is? Is the responsibility structure clear? Join us to explore BoD 101 with an analytical perspective: looking at the sources of the problem(s) with a Board of Directors, not just the symptom(s). About CHRC Cultural Human Resources Council (CHRC) is a registered national arts service organization with charitable status. Its Mission is to strengthen the Canadian cultural workforce by providing leadership and innovative solutions to human resource issues and to better the HR environment within the cultural sector. CHRC provides research, training, solutions and resources to Canadian cultural industry and artistic discipline establishments (businesses and non-profit organizations), individuals (employers and workers) in Live Performing Arts; Writing and Publishing; Visuals Arts and Crafts; Film, Television and Broadcasting; Digital Media; Music and Sound Recording; and Heritage. CHRC also works on cross-sector issues such as Cultural Management, Career Management and Export Marketing. All of the above in both official languages. Dr. Grégoire Gagnon (CHRC Executive Director) Dr. Grégoire Gagnon is a manager, pedagogue and musician fostering culture and promoting arts from the stage to the classroom and boardroom. Aside from being a lifelong academic and a real world problem solver, Grégoire is (among other things) currently the Execute Director of the Cultural Human Resources Council, the President of the Ottawa Guitar Society, and in all his roles, he strives to make others thrive. Register at the link below by end of day November 5th to receive the zoom link for this session. https://lnkd.in/guTPe-aD

Please join us in welcoming Patricia Cerra as PACT's new Program Manager!🎉 Patricia Cerra is an award-winning performer, producer, director and artistic leader with a multi-faceted national career where she has worked on over fifty productions with dozens of companies. She has been recognized with the Sterling Award for Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role, Comedy, and has received another Sterling Nomination for Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role - Play. Patricia is also a consultant, facilitator, educator, and dramaturg. She has the pleasure of world premiering new work in a variety of positions and finds great joy in new work development. Some of the companies she's worked with and has developed new work at include: The Citadel Theatre, Alberta Playwrights Network, Alberta Theatre Projects, Theatre Network, Shadow Theatre, Workshop West, Theatre Network, Neptune Theatre, Teatro la Quindicina, Nightswimming Theatre, The Musical Stage Company, Tarragon Theatre, The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Bard on the Beach, Canadian Stage, Vita Brevis Arts, The National Arts Centre, Nightwood Theatre, and the Banff Playwrights Lab where she collaborated with national and international playwrights on over a dozen brand new pieces. She has taught residencies, completed several tours, and built theatre intensives structured around devised creation for young people. Patricia debuted her short children’s play as a part of the Sprouts Festival with Concrete Theatre. She was the Associate Producer for Vita Brevis Arts & the National Arts Centre on the two-part production of the critically acclaimed national best-selling novel Fall On Your Knees which toured to Canadian Stage, Neptune Theatre, The National Arts Centre & The Grand Theatre. Most recently, she was also the Associate Artistic Director at the Musical Stage Company, the largest and leading charitable musical theatre company in Canada.

PACT is hosting a special Peer-to-Peer on Education and Outreach.    Tuesday, October 22, 2:30pm ET  On Zoom  Free for Members & Non-Members    Come join your fellow educators across the country and debrief/discuss learnings from the summer and approaches to fall programming and beyond. In a time where you are likely planning for the next fiscal, what are the questions and considerations you have as you create plans and budgets? This Peer-to-Peer is focused on those who run education and outreach portfolios, though all are welcome.    Register now: https://lnkd.in/gbNXG_mH  

Make It a Night to Remember. Live theatre is where stories come alive, creating unforgettable memories with every performance. Take your loved ones on a journey filled with creativity, movement and joy – right here, on stage. Join us at experiencelivetheatre.com and share your favourite theatre memory.

Don’t forget to register for PACT’s October Town Hall!    Thursday, October 17, 1pm ET  On Zoom  Free for Members & Non-Members    PACT Town Halls are free and open to managers, artistic leaders, producers, administrators, and anyone else working in the Canadian performing arts – whether or not your company is a PACT Member.     Our ongoing Town Hall sessions explore the many pressing issues in Canadian theatre today and attendees receive updates from the PACT staff and board, insights from invited guest speakers, and opportunities to connect with your colleagues and hear about their work.    Register now: https://lnkd.in/grDpPpmk