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The Citizen, 2012-03-29, Page 7THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012. PAGE 7. THE EDITOR, The Blyth Festival celebrated World Theatre Day on March 27 in the wake of a major loss to the Canadian theatre community. The Vancouver Playhouse closed its doors on March 9 in the midst of its 49th season as a mainstay of Canada’s regional theatres. Although the World Theatre Day celebration is somewhat muted by this loss, theatres from coast to coast are taking a stand in solidarity for our art. The Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT) represents over 140 member companies. These organizations, ranging in size from the One Light Theatre in Halifax to the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, form a crucial element of Canada’s economic and holistic health. As president of PACT, and artistic director of an established, mid-sized theatre company, I know the challenges that my colleagues and I face on a daily basis. We manage our resources with extraordinary care, we improvise to replace lost revenue, we build relationships with partners across the business sector, we pour millions of dollars back into our communities and we consistently advocate on behalf of the artists who create the work on our stages. In Blyth, our festival provides an urgently needed diversity within the local economy. In a region that is losing its manufacturing sector, our $1.1 million operating budget is vital to the health of our community. But the impact also has a human face: our general manager, Deb Sholdice, is a case in point. She grew up in this village with a population of 1,000. She began as a volunteer usher, continued as a volunteer in community productions, shepherded her children through our youth programs and served on our board of directors before making a major career shift and joining our staff. Deb now leads the administration with vision and a commitment to the betterment of Blyth. There is an element of success here that cannot be measured as easily as the financial contribution, but is no less important to our community. To those who rail against arts funding, I ask: Do we expect to pay the actual expenses per person when it comes to other essentials in society? Health care? Education? What would happen if we did not subsidize creation and maintenance of sports facilities? The short answer is that the quality of life as we know it would disappear. Theatre is an essential piece of this human puzzle. On behalf of the Blyth Festival and theatres across Canada, I ask you to join us in recognizing World Theatre Day. Take a moment to appreciate the impact of theatre in your community and then take a moment to consider the impact of the Vancouver Playhouse’s closure. This is a company that created the foundation for artists to thrive in one of our most diverse and exciting cities. The loss goes far beyond dollars and cents – and we all mourn its demise. World Theatre Day represents our hope that theatre grows and prospers here and around the world. Please support your local theatre. Eric Coates Artistic Director, Blyth Festival and President, Professional Association of Canadian Theatres. Festival mourns loss of Vancouver theatreLetter to the Editor • Renovations • New Homes • Sales & Installation of Windows & Doors Call Ken 519-887-9857 Brussels, ON 519-526-7634 ~ Dave Werkema ADDITIONS • RENOVATIONS • GENERAL REPAIRS NEW HOMES C&P PORTABLE TOILETS Teeswater 1-800-834-4414 Ph: 519-392-8474 Fax: 519-392-6168 * Regular Units * Deluxe Units - sink / flush * Handwash Stations * Wedding / Special Event Units * Wheelchair/Infant Care Units * Comfort Station Trailer C&P - for people who are out and “going”! Convenient for your outdoor event! Always clean & fresh. ELLIOTT NIXON INSURANCE BROKERS INC. 5 GENERATIONS SINCE 1910 Blyth, Ont. 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