Schedule

PACTcon 2025 Schedule

Kjipuktuk / Halifax

May 21 – May 24, 2025

The schedule is subject to enhancement, additions and change. All times are local to Kjipuktuk/Halifax (AT).

Here you will find:

• Core PACTcon programming & 
• Supplemental activities from local partners and member companies will be announced at a later date.

Programming details will be announced soon.

This page was last updated on April 26, 2025.

TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2025

Pre-Conference Community Events

Registration Table open from 6:00pm to 10:00pm in Four Points Sheridan Hotel

• 10am to 4pm: National Theatre ASO Meeting. (Neptune Theatre, Windsor Studio).
  • For more info contact Brad Lepp, bradl@pact.ca

• 12pm to 4pm: Alliance of Asian Canadian Performing Artists / StopAsianHate Gathering (Neptune Theatre, Imperial Studio).
  • For more info  contact: Boomer Stacey, boomer@bocadellupo.com.
  • Please register here: Link to Register

• 1pm to 5 pm: Black Pledge National Gathering (Neptune Theatre, Pratt & Whitney Rehearsal Hall)
  • For more info contact Velvet Wells, vwells@theblackpledge.ca

• 3pm to 4pm: PACT Board Meeting (Neptune Theatre, Craig Boardroom)

• 10am to 6pm: Negotiations Masterclass (Neptune Theatre, Oland Rehearsal Hall).
  • For more info contact Alison Peddie, alisonp@pact.ca

For more information about the Pre-Conference Community Events click here.

Informal Welcome Gatherings

• 6:45pm to 7:30pm: Neptune Theatre Behind the Scenes Tour. Meet in the Neptune Theatre Lobby for a venue tour filled with anecdotes & behind the scenes stories with Neptune Theatre’s Artistic Director Jeremy Webb.
• 7:30 to 8:30pm: First Timers Welcome (Neptune Theatre, Lobby). For First-Time Attendees, Board Members, and Region & Caucus Reps. Dry event, lite bites.
• 8:30pm to 9:15pm: Boardwalk Sunset Welcome Walk (meet at the Neptune Theatre Lobby). Join Laura Caswell as she leads a welcome walk on Halifax’s Boardwalk. Bring a friend, and enjoy the sunset on the water.

Nightlife Suggestions

• 8:30pm to 10:30pm: Offered by Neptune Theatre - Karaoke Kick off at Bearly's House of Blues & Ribs (1579 Grafton St, Halifax, NS B3J 2C3). Just a 2-minute walk from Neptune Theatre, hop on over to meet with colleagues, have a beverage or sing a tune or two. The venue is accessible, snacks & beverages available for purchase.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2025

Hosted at Neptune Theatre

Registration Table, and Hangout Space 8am to 6pm at Neptune Theatre.

A quiet room is available from 9am to 6:15pm if a space is needed away from conference activities to decompress. (Craig Boardroom @ Neptune Theatre)

8am to 9am: Buddy Breakfast (Pratt and Whitney Rehearsal Hall @ Neptune Theatre). For participants in the Buddy Program. Meet your Buddy and grab a breakfast box.

8:30am to 9:30am: Rising Tides Meet and Greet (Oland rehearsal Hall @ Neptune Theatre ). For participants in the Rising Tides Program. 

9am to 11am: Welcome & Opening Session (Fountain Hall Stage @ Neptune Theatre)

11am to 1pm: Lunch on your own

1pm to 2:30pm: Region Meetings at Neptune Theatre

• Region 1 (BC) @ Fountain Hall Stage
• Region 2 (AB, YT, NT) @ Royal Bank Lounge (Downstairs Lobby)
• Region 3 (MB, SK) @ Scotiabank Studio Theatre
• Region 4 (ON, outside of Toronto) @ Pratt & Whitney Rehearsal Hall
• Region 5 (Toronto) @ Imperial Studio
• Region 6 (QC) @ Oland Rehearsal Hall
• Region 7 (NB, NS, PEI) @ Grant Thorton Lounge, Scotiabank Stage
• Region 8 (NL) @ Neptune Spatz Lounge (Upstairs Lobby)

2:30pm to 3pm: Break

3pm to 4:30pm: Caucus Meetings at Neptune Theatre

• Rural Theatres @ Fountain Hall Stage
• Affiliates and Non-Member Companies: Neptune Spatz Lounge (Upstairs Lobby)
• Category ‘A’ @ Oland Rehearsal Hall
• New Work Architects @ Pratt and Whitney Rehearsal Hall
• Regional Theatres @ Imperial Studio
• Summer Theatres @ Windsor Studio
• Theatre for Young Audiences @ Scotiabank Studio Stage

3pm to 6pm: Rising Tides Plenary Session @ Neptune Royal Bank Lounge (Downstairs Lobby at Neptune Theatre)

This is a closed session open only to Rising Tides participants. Rising Tides is a paid skill development and mentorship platform which pairs seven developing or mid-career IBPOC performing arts administrators with senior mentors for nine months of sustained learning and knowledge exchange. In this session, the Rising Tides cohort will navigate a fun and challenging choice-based workplace scenario designed by Byron Laviolette.

4:45pm to 6:15pm: Caucus Meetings at Neptune Theatre

• Creator Centric @ Oland Rehearsal Hall
• Indigenous Caucus @ Pratt and Whitney Rehearsal Hall

6:15pm to 8pm: Dinner on your own or with colleagues

8pm to 10pm: Conference Opening Welcome Bar. Join your colleagues to connect and meet. Bar services will be available.

THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2025

Hosted at Neptune Theatre

Registration Table, Playwrights Canada Press Book Table from 9am to 5pm in the Neptune Theatre Lobby (1593 Argyle St)

A quiet room is available from 9:30am to 5:30pm if a space is needed away from conference activities to decompress. (Craig Boardroom @ Neptune Theatre)

9:30am to 11:30am: Annual General Meeting Part #1 (Fountain Hall Stage @ Neptune Theatre).

11:30am to 1pm: Lunch Break (Catered in the Neptune Theatre Lobby)

1pm to 2pm: Multiple Sessions (Neptune Theatre)

• Ripples of Impact (Fountain Hall Theatre)
• Black Pledge Session (Oland Rehearsal Hall)
• Theatre for All: Initiatives in Access Centered Work (Scotiabank Studio Theatre)
• More to come

2pm to 2:30pm: Break

2:30pm to 4pm: Multiple Sessions (Neptune Theatre)

• Cities of/for Culture: How Civics, Commerce, and Culture thrive together (Fountain Hall Stage)
• SuperHappyFunTimes with the PACT PGC Negotiation Team (Pratt and Whitney Rehearsal Hall)
• An Introduction to Transformative Mediation (Scotiabank Studio Stage)
• More to come

4:00pm to 4:30pm: Break

4:30pm to 5:30pm: Multiple Sessions (Neptune Theatre)

• How Do We Grow an Organization These Days (Fountain Hall Stage)
• Reflections from the International Black Theatre Festival (Oland Rehearsal Hall)
• Membership Framework of Care Discussion (Pratt & Whitney Rehearsal Hall)
• Bringing Your Venue into Focus: The Power of Digital Venue Records for Smarter Production Planning (Scotiabank Studio)

Evening Suggestion:

Want to see a reading?

7:30pm to 10pm: Offered by The Playwrights Guild of Canada and the Playwright Atlantic Resource Centre – Between the Lines: PGC and PARC’s Playwrights Reading Night. Hosted at the Scotiabank Studio at Neptune Theatre. Please RSVP here.Bar services will be available.

FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2025

Hosted at Neptune Theatre (Halifax) & Alderney Landing (Dartmouth)

Registration Table, Playwrights Canada Press Book Table from 9am to 1pm in the Neptune Theatre Lobby (1593 Argyle St)

A quiet room is available from 9am to 1pm if a space is needed away from conference activities to decompress. (Craig Boardroom @ Neptune Theatre)

9am to 11am: Annual General Meeting Part #2 (Fountain Hall Stage @ Neptune Theatre).

11am to 11:30pm: Break

11:30pm to 1pm: Multiple Sessions (Neptune Theatre)

• Labour Relations – Associated Designers of Canada Agreement Feedback Session (Fountain Hall Theatre)
• Fixing Theatre Criticism: A DIY workshop (Oland Rehearsal Hall)
• More to come

1pm to 3pm: Break & Delegates Travel to Alderney Landing (2 Ochterloney St, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 3Z3)

3pm to 5pm: PACTcon Pitch Party (Alderney Landing)

3:15pm to 4:45pm: Crisis? What Crisis? Scenario Planning for Your Theatre. Sponsored by Young Associates. (Front Rotunda, Alderney Landing)

5pm to 7pm: Cinq a Sept Mingler. Bar will be open. Sponsored by Front Row Insurance & Blueprint Insurance. (Lobby, Alderny Landing)

Evening Suggestion:

Want to see a show? Check out The Fruit Machine presented by Eastern Front Theatre at Alderney Landing starting at 7:30pm. Pay What You can tickets can be purchased here.

SATURDAY, MAY 24 – Ross Creek Day

Transportation will be provided for delegates.

10am: Bus leaves Four Points Sheridan to Ross Creek

12pm: Two Planks and a Passion Welcome & Orientation

12:30pm: Lunch provided at Ross Creek

1pm: Outdoor Sessions hosted by Two Planks and a Passion. Please bring appropriate clothing and footwear.

2pm to 3pm (Multiple Sessions):

• PACT Strategic Plan Launchpad (Option 1). Two options are provided for delegates to attend one Strategic Planning session or the other.
• New Leaders Session 

3:15pm to 4:15pm (Multiple Sessions):

• PACT Strategic Plan Launchpad (Option 2). Two options are provided for delgates to attend one Strategic Planning session or the other. 
• More sessions to come. 

4:30pm: Awards, Conference Closing & Celebration

6pm: Bus load in begins for delegates not attending the dinner.

6:15pm: Conference Closing Dinner for delegates who opted in.

8:30pm: Buses leave Ross Creek and travel back to Four Points Sheridan.

Questions about PACTcon 2025?

• Contact Program Manager Patricia Cerra at patriciac@pact.ca

We look forward to having you at PACTcon 2025.