Schedule – Wednesday, April 10, 2024

1:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Conference Registration

Rotary Centre for the Arts, First Floor Lobby
Sponsored by Agence Station Bleue

2:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Facility Manager’s Meeting

Rotary Centre for the Arts, Mary Irwin Theatre

Host: Theresia Reid, Chilliwack Cultural Centre
This meeting allows venue managers from BC and beyond to discuss trends, successes, challenges, and other topics related to managing and programming venues.

RSVP here.

Sponsored by Actsafe Safety Association

4:00 PM to 5:30 PM

C.A.R.E. Circle Talk

Rotary Centre for the Arts, Mary Irwin Theatre

Canadian Artists for Reconciliation and Education (C.A.R.E.) is hosting a Circle Talk as part of Pacific Contact. C.A.R.E. was created to educate its members and the general public in all matters of the truth regarding Indigenous and Settler history while nurturing acts of reconciliation.

At this Circle Talk, Krystal Withakay will share their story of resilience while shedding light on the truth about the injustices inflicted upon Indigenous Peoples of Canada, helping us build the path towards reconciliation.
This event is open to all, not just those registered for Pacific Contact 2024. To RSVP to attend in-person, visit this link.

Participants are invited to observe or engage in conversation. This session will also be live-streamed on Zoom.

Host: Kym Gouchie, Indigenous Cultural Liaison
Speaker: Krystal Withakay

Krystal Withakay (spaxwawlm) is of the Syilx nation and is from Westbank, BC. She is an independent Syilx artist and  knowledge keeper. In sharing knowledge and creating safe learning spaces, Krystal is a life long advocate in holding the Syilx practices, language and lifestyle close to her heart.

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Welcome Reception with Spotlight Showcase

Kelowna Art Gallery

Delegates are invited to a welcome reception at the Kelowna Art Gallery for networking, appetizers, refreshments, a no-host bar, and a Spotlight Showcase featuring local artists, Under the Rocks. The current exhibition is also open for viewing.

Host: Caitlin McKee, Programming & Partnerships Manager, Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, UBC/BCTC Board Member
Special Guest: Lisanne Ballantyne, CEO, Tourism Kelowna
Hospitality by Relvas Catering 

Spotlight Showcase

Under the Rocks
Hailing from Kelowna, Under the Rocks has emerged from a city with no other bluegrass acts to become one of Canada’s premier bluegrass bands.

Kelowna Art Gallery Exhibition: Significant Forms

Significant Forms pushes the boundaries of the traditional gallery, offering an immersive journey into the minds of seven influential contemporary Canadian artists whose work allows visitors to experience an unexpected, reimagined art space. This installation-based exhibition features seven Canadian contemporary artists: Wally Dion, Wand

Please note registration is not open during this event.

Schedule – Thursday, April 11, 2024

8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Conference Registration

Rotary Centre for the Arts, First Floor Lobby
Sponsored by Agence Station Bleue

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM

Spotlight Showcase: Fleuve-Espace Danse – La Marée Noire

Tugboat Beach, Waterfront Park, 1200 Water Street
Inspired by the issues caused by an oil spill in the seas and on marine ecosystems, Chantal Caron revisits textures, forms, and oppositions in this 30-minute show.
This showcase is outdoors on the waterfront, so please dress accordingly. The beach area is accessible by a level pathway.
In the event of inclement weather, this showcase will move to the Rotary Centre for the Arts, Mary Irwin Theatre. If a move is required, delegates will be sent an email announcement.

11:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Opening Ceremony – Tm̓xʷúlaʔxʷ

tm̓xʷúlaʔxʷ means the land and everything that lives and interacts on it. It is an all-encompassing word that expresses the intersectionality of land and nature. 

Rotary Centre for the Arts, Mary Irwin Theatre
Host: Kym Gouchie, BCTC Indigenous Cultural Liaison
Speakers: Elder Cori Derickson, Westbank First Nation
Deb Renz, Chair, BC Touring Council
Colleen Fitzpatrick, Rotary Centre for the Arts
Krystal WithaKay, Cultural Consultant, Westbank First Nation

Sponsored by The Port Theatre

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Lunch

Rotary Centre for the Arts, Atrium
Delegates are invited to the Atrium to pick up lunch and to join a table.
First floor: Atrium, Orange Room, Yellow Room, Green Room, TKS Creative Hub Second floor: Blue Room, Lobby
Catering by J’s Cafe & Bistro
Lunch tickets will be collected before picking up your lunch.

Sponsored by The Port Theatre

Noon – 2:30 PM

Contact Room: Exhibitor load in and set up

Laurel Packinghouse

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

Network Meetings

Presenters & Festivals Meeting

Rotary Centre for the Arts, Atrium
Appropriate for presenters and festival presenters

Hosted by Sheryl McGraw & Jenny Lee Craig, BC Touring Council
Presenters connect, network and discuss the most pressing issues facing them today, including funding, touring, audiences, community engagement, production, ticket sales, equity, diversity and inclusion. Meet our new Festival Coordinator and hear about our new presenter and festival directories, updates to the Community Presenters Assistance and Into the Act Funding programs and other exciting developments.

Sponsored by the Capitol Theatre Restoration Society

Artists & Artistic Companies

Rotary Centre for the Arts, Yellow Room, First Floor
Appropriate for artists & artistic company representatives

Hosted by Renee Iaci
This meeting offers an opportunity to meet with artists and artistic companies from BC and across Canada to share ideas, common challenges, to offer support, ask questions and seek ways to collaborate.
Sponsored by DuffleBag Theatre

Agents & Managers Meeting

Rotary Centre for the Arts, Orange Room, First Floor
Appropriate for artists representatives including agents, managers, and tour managers.

Hosted by Aaron Schubert, Agent, Paquin Entertainment/BCTC Board member– with AASPAA Canada
This session is an opportunity for artist representatives to network, discuss topics of interest and share best practices.

Sponsored by the Chilliwack Cultural Centre

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

Short 5s

Rotary Centre for the Arts, Mary Irwin Theatre
Hosts: Daune Campbell & Petrice Brett

Short 5 Line-up

Natasha Hall – Continuum  
Aerlialists
JAFFA ROAD
Guitares Nomades
Audrey Gaussiran – MOSAÏCO
Destins Croisés
Green Thumb Theatre – Funny, You Don’t Look Autistic
Tina Leon
Sussex
Melanie Teichroeb – Shield Maiden

2:30 PM – 5:00 PM

Contact Room – Mix & Mingle

Laurel Packinghouse

A concession will be open during the Contact Room.
Sponsored by Creekside Theatre

5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Dine Arounds

The Dine Arounds offers an opportunity to get a taste of the host city. Delegates sign up to dine with colleagues at various restaurants in Kelowna; all are within walking distance from the hotel.

Sign-ups are done prior to the conference and at the registration desk. Space is limited. Each Dine-Around restaurant will have a host with a list of those who signed up. We have arranged for separate cheques with each restaurant for your convenience.

8:00 PM – 10:30 PM

Showcase 1

Rotary Centre for the Arts, Mary Irwin Theatre
Doors open at 7:30 pm
Host: Nadine Tremblay

Showcase Line-up

Mimi O’Bonsawin
Ingrid Hansen – Epidermis Circus
Celeigh Cardinal – Cancelled due to illness
Polky
Solidaridad Tango
Bear Grease the Musical

10:30 PM – Midnight

Late Night Hospitality

Oak & Cru Social Kitchen & Wine Bar
1310 Water Street, Delta Grand Okanagan Resort

Reconnect with colleagues and wrap up the day at Oak & Cru located in the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort. Their Happy Hour menu is available from 9:00 pm to midnight. A limited selection of appetizers will be available.
Sponsored by Ballet Kelowna

Schedule – Friday, April 12, 2024

8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Conference Registration

Rotary Centre for the Arts, First Floor Lobby
Sponsored by Agence Station Bleue
Refreshments Sponsored by Surrey Civic Theatres

9:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Professional Development Workshops

Three workshops run concurrently from 9:00 am to 11:00 am

Syilx Cultural Competency

Rotary Centre for the Arts, Atrium
Pamela and Grouse Barnes, Syilx Elders and Knowledge Keepers from Westbank First Nation

Digital Presence 102: Make Your Event Data Work For You

Rotary Centre for the Arts, Blue Room, Second Floor
Frédéric Julien, Director of Research and Development, Canadian Association for the Performing Arts (CAPACOA)

Beyond Transactions: How Membership/Subscription Models Help Build Sustainable Relationships and Revenue Streams

Rotary Centre for the Arts, Yellow Room, First Floor
Inga Petri, Strategic Moves

11:00 AM – Noon

Showcase 2 – Family

Rotary Centre for the Arts, Mary Irwin Theatre
Doors open at 10:45 pm

Students from School District 23 may be in attendance.
Host: Leila Neverland

Showcase Line-up

Beny Esguerra and New Tradition Music
Pangaea Arts – The Trollsons
Productions Strada – The Merry Marching Band

Sponsored by KBAM! Kevin Bruce Arts Management

Noon – 1:00 PM

Lunch

Rotary Centre for the Arts, Atrium
Delegates are invited to the Atrium to pick up lunch and to join a table.
First floor: Atrium, Orange Room, Yellow Room, Green Room, TKS Creative Hub Second floor: Blue Room, Lobby
Catering by El Taquero
Lunch tickets will be collected prior to picking up your lunch.

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Showcase 2 – Family

Rotary Centre for the Arts, Mary Irwin Theatre
Doors open at 12:45 pm

Students from School District 23 may be in attendance.

Host: Leila Neverland

Showcase Line-up

The Myrtle Sisters – Same Same Different 
Matt Baker – Skillology
Axis Theatre – Where Have All The Buffalo Gone? 

Sponsored by KBAM! Kevin Bruce Arts Management

2:00 PM – 3:30 PM

The Knowledge Café

Hosts: Frédéric Julien & Chandel Gambles, Canadian Association for the Performing Arts (CAPACOA)

The Knowledge Café is a peer learning program designed to foster knowledge sharing and insights generation in a small group setting. The program makes it possible for conference participants to join roundtable discussions on a range of topics. These curated discussions, facilitated by industry experts, enable participants to share their experiences, learn from others, and develop new ideas.

The event will feature two rounds of discussions, with topics repeating in the second round. Participants are encouraged to move between tables during the rounds to engage in different discussions. Each round will begin with facilitator introductions, followed by group discussions.

The Knowledge Café is a program designed and developed by CAPACOA and CINARS. This edition of the Knowledge Café is presented with support from CAPACOA.

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Short 5s

Rotary Centre for the Arts, Mary Irwin Theatre
Hosts: Daune Campbell & Petrice Brett

Short 5 Line-up

Tragedy Ann
Kuné World
Wild Mint Arts – iiyíkihkaohsit (dance with fervor)
Laura Piccinin
Batrabbit Productions – Rat Academy
Christine Tassan et Les Imposteures
Iron Mountain Theatre – G-Rated: A Musical Puppet Show
RibbitRePublic Theatre – AWOL
ILL-Abilities: Lazylegz – No Excuses, No Limits

4:30 PM – 6:00 PM

Contact Room – Mix & Mingle

Laurel Packinghouse
A concession will be open during the Contact Room.

Refreshments Sponsored by Surrey Civic Theatres
Contact Room Sponsored by Creekside Theatre

6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Dinner at Metro Hub

1265 Ellis Street
Doors open at 6:30 pm

Catering by Relvas Catering

Metro Hub is a new and modern event venue operated by Metro Community. They provide services for those experiencing profound material poverty, including homelessness. A portion of the rental revenues are dedicated to supporting these services.
Dinner tickets will be collected at the door.

8:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Showcase 3

Metro Hub
Host: Lucas Myers

Showcase Line-up

Dana Sipos
Ché Aimee Dorval
Tonye Aganaba
Grand Poney – Punch Line

Delegates who did not purchase a dinner ticket are invited to attend showcases starting at 8:00 p.m

10:00 PM – Midnight

Late Night Hospitality

Oak & Cru Social Kitchen & Wine Bar
1310 Water Street, Delta Grand Okanagan Resort

Reconnect with colleagues and wrap up the day at Oak & Cru located in the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort. Their Happy Hour menu is available from 9:00 pm to midnight. A limited selection of appetizers will be available.
Sponsored by  the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils (OSAC)

Schedule – Sunday, April 14, 2024

9:30 AM – 11:00 AM

Block Booking Meeting

Mount Boucherie Room, Delta Grand Okanagan Resort
Join Petrice Brett, BCTC’s Block Booking Coordinator, for an in-person meeting to discuss your interests for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 performing arts seasons. Presenters will have an opportunity to pitch artists to determine whether tours may be booked through the Arts Touring Connector and to review tours currently being offered.