Canadian Heritage committee  We attempted a couple of projects over the holiday season and we had a mix of half the performances at 50% capacity and half at 100% capacity. The ones at 50% were the ones to sell first. We never went above 50% in the 100% capacities either. The messaging is really about arts activity.

Canadian Heritage committee  It has been very difficult. For most of us on this call who are arts activity leaders, they look to us for support. They look to us for all the answers, and it's probably the first time in our careers that we don't have all the answers. We try to maintain as much hope as possible, so we look forward to an opening only to be dashed with it closing again.

Canadian Heritage committee  I would say it's the message that has to come from all our elected representatives and their communities, which is that we need to maintain arts and culture in our communities. I will say that arts organizations have a proud history and a proven track record for providing an excellent return on investment.

Canadian Heritage committee  Absolutely. We're a prime example. We operate seven venues around the province. We rent some facilities as well. We were able to receive rent subsidy for the ones that we rent, but we still had to carry the load for all our own venues. I've heard many times that the pandemic is going to destroy small theatre companies, but we also have to look at the ones that operate seven venues.

Canadian Heritage committee  Our organization is the exception to the rule. We receive no operating funds from any arts council or level of government. We have received some capital grants and so on. It made it doubly hard for us. We reached out to our stakeholders and our audience. We held one very successful campaign, an online fifty-fifty.

Canadian Heritage committee  Absolutely. We are under construction of a brand new facility. You talk about philanthropy, and this has come through individuals and corporations who believe in generational change and the future of our industry. We plan to teach not only performing arts, but technical arts as well.

Canadian Heritage committee  Mr. Lewis alluded earlier to how many technicians are involved in productions. They are as important and in some cases even more important than what we see on stage. They make what happens on stage happen. We're worried about losing some of these skilled technicians to other jobs.

Canadian Heritage committee  I think it's all of the above, Mr. Louis. We all need to work together regarding the messaging. We need support. Frankly, we're frightened to announce a season to only have it shut down again, because it affects a lot of people, a lot of signed licence agreements, payouts and so on.

Canadian Heritage committee  A lot of the hospitality sector relies on us—people in restaurants, overnight stays, transportation and so on to get to us. It is a partnership. We basically rely on each other. That's been hard, because we close and they close. It's a problem. It has really affected the arts sector as well.

Canadian Heritage committee  All of my colleagues on this call have suggested programs, new programs and to continue programs that are already existing, but I really believe we need messaging. The messaging has to come right from the top to let us know that it will be safe to gather again, because the nature of our business is communal.

Canadian Heritage committee  As many of you in the arts sector know, the true cost of producing live theatre is not reflected in the average ticket price. We rely on sponsorships, on fundraising and a lot of partnerships, but the box office of course is a big part of it. We have a model of sustainability where we split pre-production costs between multiple theatres as we move productions from one area to the other.

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you. The final recommendation would be to destigmatize the return of large gatherings. I think we look to our elected officials for guidance about when it is safe to return to arts activities and to gatherings, so it's imperative that the government launch a comprehensive marketing, communications and PR strategy that alleviates the fear and stigma many Canadians will feel upon a return to social events.

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you. Hello, and greetings from a very snowy Kitchener-Waterloo and Perth—Wellington. I'll begin by quoting the late great actor Charlie Chaplin, who summed up how arts sector workers are feeling around the country at the moment. He once said, “I like to walk in the rain so that no one can see my tears.”

Canadian Heritage committee  There's going to be a new cost to recovery because we will have lost, I think, to other industries some very talented, creative individuals. It will mean a new sense of training and coming up to speed that is going to take a number of years, unfortunately. One thing I would like to add is we talk about the higher tier musicians or actors who are successful, and financially successful.

Canadian Heritage committee  We certainly need the support. We have had a very successful youth program over the years that we're expanding. We believe this is an area where we will be most effective on generational change. I know a lot of young people who are in acting schools and musical theatre programs and who study music and so on.