Ahead of World Theatre Day for Children and Youth on March 20, 2025, and World Theatre Day on March 27, 2025, Canada celebrates theatre’s impact and contribution to Canadian society.

More specifically, The Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT) and L’Association des théâtres francophones du Canada (AFTC), in partnership with The International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People Canada (ASSITEJ Canada) encourage all media to connect with their local theatre companies to discover their impact and invite Canadians to band together and share theatre’s civic impact and cultural contribution to our heritage.

Launched in 1962, World Theatre Day is recognized annually on March 27 as an opportunity for theatre professionals, organizations, governments, and audiences to celebrate and promote the art form around the world.

With global growing uncertainty, Canadian theatres remain committed to innovation, resiliency, creation, inclusion and engagement. Our theatres continue to have a profound impact on the quality of life for Canadians, promoting economic development, stimulating tourism, and investing in our communities. Theatres play a vital role for some 10 million Canadians to come together each year to share and to be inspired by their creativity.

World Theatre Day Ambassadors

In Canada, Senator from New Brunswick, the Honourable Senator René Cormier has been selected as World Theatre Day’s 2025 Canadian Ambassador. Since his appointment to the Senate, Senator Cormier is committed to defending and promoting arts and culture, language rights, and human rights. He currently chairs the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages and is a member of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology. For more information, visit: www.pact.ca.

“Now, more than ever, when the world around us craves love, let us dare to practice theatre,” said the Honourable René Cormier, “Let us inject mystery in these places where we gather in the truth of who we really are.”

World Theatre Day – International

The International Theatre Institute (ITI) has announced Theodoros Terzopoulous, theatre director, educator, author, and Chairman of the International Committee of Theatre Olympics, as the 2025 World Theatre Day International Ambassador. Mr. Terzopoulous work has radically transformed the way ancient Greek tragedy has been presented, introducing elements of extreme physicality. For more information, visit: world-theatre-day.org

FACT SHEET

Canadian Theatre’s impact on our society:

• Canada is home to 500 theatre companies;

• Canada’s theatres employ over 30,000 people;

• For every dollar in ticket sales, theatres generate $5.94 in economic impact;

• 1 in 4 Canadians attend live theatre performances each year;

• Over 3,500 Canadian works are performed each year;

• Over 20,000 Canadians volunteer their time to theatre;

• 2.3 million Canadians attend theatre performances created for young audiences each year.

“World Theatre Day and World Theatre Day for Children and Young People are also an opportunity to highlight the role of theater in building the identity of the many minority Francophonies. Theater is a vehicle for our language - let's protect it!” highlight Lindsay Tremblay, Executive Director of ATFC.