First Prize

Like so many others, we have watched with a mixture of consternation and hope the outpouring of anger, the demands for change and the growing commitment to reform that has exploded in response to the murder of George Floyd. While much of our attention right now is focused on the Black community, June also marks Indigenous History Month in Canada as well as International Pride Month for the LGBTQ2IA+ population. These populations have also suffered the impacts of police harassment, and they too deserve our support – as do all those victimized by racism, in whatever form it takes.

It behooves us at TheatreOne as an Arts organization, as it does us as individuals, to stand with these communities, to work for tangible change in our society, and to support measures to ensure equality, justice and diversity in our industry. As an organization we will do so, and we will be as inclusive as we can be in our hiring and programming practices.

There is no peace without justice. And there will be no justice for these communities without action. We will make every effort to do our part.

David Mann, Artistic Director of TheatreOne & The Board of Directors of TheatreOne