LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

People have been performing stories on these lands since time immemorial. Canada’s Theatre Museum is honoured to be working on what were and are the ancestral lands of the Wendat, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the Anishinabek Nation, including the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.

 

MISSION

We invite the world to explore and be inspired by the past, present and future of Canadian theatre.

 

VISION

Our vision is a Canada that values all shared expressions of theatre by all people as essential and enriching elements in our social fabric.

 

VALUES

We acknowledge that humans created the unique and powerful art of theatre to connect and uplift our lives and have been performing stories on these lands since time immemorial.

We are guided by our theatre roots to be collaborative, resourceful and creative in presenting memorable experiences for our audiences.

We are proud of the rich and diverse racial, cultural and linguistic theatrical heritage in our country.

We are a meeting place for all viewpoints and perspectives, to share stories of our humanity that enlighten our audiences.

We define theatre in a broad sense to be inclusive of all professional and amateur performing arts and theatrical events such as Ballet, Circus, Dance, Magic, Mime, Opera, Puppetry, Review, Street Theatre, Theatre, and Vaudeville.

A BRIEF HISTORY

A troupe of dedicated theatre artists and historians established the Theatre Museum Corporation in 1991. They were led by Herbert Whittaker, a designer and director, best known for his role as theatre critic and columnist for The Globe and Mail. Like us, they believed our country has a performing arts
heritage worth preserving and celebrating.

A unique mission was developed: We invite the world to explore and be inspired by the past, present and future of Canadian theatre.

Thanks to the generous support of individuals across the country, and investments from all three levels of government, their idea grew into a small charity, caring for a growing collection and mounting temporary
popup exhibitions.

We have also developed a strong online presence, which features the Legend Library. This series of video interviews by R.H. Thomson with pioneers and change-makers of Canadian theatre has become a vital resource for students and theatre artists across Canada and around the world.

For over 30 years, the museum’s supporters dreamed of finding a home, a place to invite audiences to celebrate and explore our performing arts heritage and be inspired by exhibitions and thought-provoking activities.

In March 2023, the museum announced that it will have a home and dedicated space within The Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre, and will be known as “Canada’s Theatre Museum”.