Ontario Presents is thrilled to support our members to attend conferences and professional development events with a special focus on discovering new artists. This article is an opportunity for our network to benefit vicariously through those experiences.
Below is an account of Pacific Contact 2025 as told by Alyson Martin.
Early in October, some of us in the Northwestern Ontario Presenter’s Group, a network of volunteer presenters from 8 different communities, travelled to Vancouver to attend Pacific Contact. Located on Granville Island, it provided a unique opportunity to enjoy indoor and outdoor performance venues while taking in the beauty of the west coast scenery; English Bay, The North Shore Mountains, the spectacular Sea Wall and the grandeur of Stanley Park.
Each of us are presenters of multi-disciplinary programs so the mix of theatre, dance, comedy, and musical genres served us well. The three-day event had showcases, pitch sessions, workshops, meet and greets with artists and agents, and chances to network with equally passionate presenters. These trips are a great opportunity to reinforce our working relationships and develop new ones. We were able to connect with peers from both urban and rural settings, full-time and volunteer, and those who may book four shows in a series through to a hundred or more; at the end of the day, all of it matters. In the workshops, theory came to life through presenting practices, lived experience, and invitations to dig deeper and approach our work with intention.
On Friday, the day started outdoors with the Git Hayetsk Dancers where a reverent attention to ancestry and the sanctity of the land were woven together and honoured. On Saturday, Ample Man Danse celebrated the whimsy, play, and physicality of dance allowing both conference goers and passersby alike to witness history, storytelling and movement at its finest.
A hard to forget moment: as we moved from one venue to another, the dynamic duo that make up Pop-Up Dance: Honey, I’m Home (Ballet BC) treated us to a performance that seemed to cover all the emotions and interactions that any one relationship could contain. A pause in the rainy weather allowed a swath of sunshine to cover the grass where we gathered, briefly, to take it in.
The staff and volunteers made us feel so welcome, from the shuttle buses in the morning to fielding our daily questions. I was impressed by the MC’s who introduced each artist as the tech crews prepared for the next showcase. Each had done their homework, were insightful, funny, engaging and kept things moving with ease. We could tell that these were individuals who played an active role in the BClive Performance Network and enjoyed these artists as much as we did. The sound and tech crew were stellar.
The closing dinner and awards show provided great food and offered us a chance to celebrate the honourees. The amazing live band, Queer as Funk, had people on the floor from start to finish.
A special thanks to Ontario Presents and the Pacific Contact organizers who supported our attendance at the conference. Our group enjoys any time we can be in the same place at the same time. This event allowed us to appreciate what we do and why we do it. It reinforced how truly amazing the network is across Canada and how fortunate we are to have such talented, creative artists here who make the work we do possible.