Our Mission

Our mission is to produce and present theatre, dance, and inter-disciplinary works that entertain the soul and reflect the cultural pluralism of Canada.

The Firehall Arts Centre first opened on February 25th, 1982 in a heritage-designated building that dates back to 1906--a facility that had operated as a real Firehall until 1975. The Playhouse Theatre Centre leased the centre from the city as a venue for its acting school, sharing it with resident companies Axis Theatre, Touchstone Theatre, and La Troupe de la Seizieme. When the Playhouse moved out, the Firehall Theatre Society was founded in 1983 by five professional theatre and video artists to animate and operate the venue as a performing and visual arts centre. The founding board of directors was Wayne Specht, Lin Bennett, Doug Lemcke, Sandy Kovak, and Donna Spencer.

Today, The Firehall Arts Centre is well recognized nationally as a place where new and established artists, performers, playwrights, choreographers and theatre workers of all backgrounds have their works produced and presented to various audiences. Its enduring vision is to showcase provocative performing and visual arts reflective of the diversity of Canada, with values like community, inclusion, transparency, education and sustainability.

The Firehall Arts Centre is committed to providing exhibition space and support to visual artists and renting performance and rehearsal space to guest companies, artists, and community groups, without heavy subsidization.

We are continually evolving to grow our vibrant community and celebrate artistic diversity. Your donations help to bring meaningful arts and equipped theatre programming, inspire artistic excellence and creativity, and enrich cultural life in the region.