Transformation, not just performance, has been the throughline of Colleen A. Smith’s leadership as CEO of St. Catherines’ FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre (PAC). “At the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, we believe in the power of the arts to transform communities,” she says proudly, “and that is exactly what we have done over the past ten years.”
“This is truly an arts centre rooted in place and people,” the seasoned Canadian arts leader affirms of FirstOntario PAC. So it’s no surprise that so many people will “attest to the fact that our downtown was completely changed when the PAC opened.” In fact, she notes, “the ongoing sense of pride and ownership from our team, our board, our members, supporters and audiences of this space is stronger than I’ve seen anywhere—and I’ve seen a lot of places!”
A short list of those places – where the MBA graduate from York University’s Schulich School of Business has steered the ship through pivotal transitions – includes Theatre Calgary, Toronto’s Massey Hall, and Newfoundland’s Gros Morne Summer Music. She has also co-led the Arts, Culture and Digital Transformation Summit at the Banff Centre and developed national partnerships with institutions like the Aga Khan Museum. And she currently serves on the boards of Culture Days Canada and the International Society of the Performing Arts.
Her work is driven by a passion for building arts ecosystems that are resilient, relevant, and rooted in community. And with FirstOntario’s fierce pride and a focused investment in relationships, she has helped the PAC achieve something that many Canadian arts organizations are still chasing: sustained and growing audiences – even after the disruption of the pandemic. The centre’s four state-of-the-art indoor venues now host over 650 events and welcome over 100,000 visitors annually.
“We often say that we are in the business of experiences, embracing being in service to our community,” Smith explains. “This reverence, respect and love of the audience—the public—has led us to an unprecedented turnaround since 2020, resulting recently in our best six-month results in over 5 years.” The key? Putting the audience not just “in mind” but “at the centre of our decisions,” and building programming, memberships and experiences “designed specifically for Niagara but that resonate beyond”.
A dazzling 2025-26 season
That programming – curated for the local, but attuned to the global – is bold and boundary-pushing. The 2025–2026 PAC Presents season is a slate of more than 60 concerts, shows, films, and experiences that showcase the PAC’s role as a regional hub for interdisciplinary arts.
- Headliners include Canadian icons like Jann Arden, Stars, and comedic legend Howie Mandel; along with award-winning global talent like Jesse Cook, Ailey II, and Dallas Smith.
- The SPARK Gala is another milestone. The PAC’s first-ever annual fundraising event featuring award-winning vocal supergroup The Tenors. Set for November 15, it aims to raise funds to fuel the next decade of artistic innovation in Niagara.
- Colllaborative multidisciplinary events include a climate-focused Brock University speaker series, the newcomer-centred Holiday Market in December, and an expanded imPACt Education Series aligned with the Ontario curriculum from Pre-K to Grade 12.
- Dynamic experiences range from Bedouin Soundclash and Ron Sexsmith to The Irish Rovers, Tenille Townes, and the Colin James Trio.
- Local and international collaborations include presentations by Alarm Alarm, Bravo Niagara!, Joe Lapinski, Spencer Mackenzie, and Femmes Du Feu.
- This year’s imPACt Education Series features family-friendly fare like Dino-Light by Lightwire Theatre, Where the Wild Things Are by Carousel Players, and Robot Song by Jolyon James, curriculum-connected programming that reflects the PAC’s commitment to engaging audiences of all ages.
“The art of curation is in part a desire to both inspire and uplift, yet also to reflect the realities of our existence,” explains Smith. “Respecting your audience means seeing them in their unique domain, while understanding the inherent connectivity to a larger global conversation.”
Topical and timely art
This year’s Art in Action series, inspired by Edward Burtynsky and focused on the climate crisis, embodies that dual lens. This ten-day event “examines the climate crisis from a hyper-local perspective, while connecting to global themes and conversations.”
Anchoring the Art in Action festival is In the Wake of Progress, a profound multimedia experience by Burtynsky that traces environmental transformation through image and sound. Other events include performances by Kaha:wi Dance Theatre and the Avanti Chamber Singers, a one-day climate symposium, gallery installations, and educational programming that encourages audience reflection and action.
The season continues its climate-conscious programming with What You Won’t Do for Love, a live theatre and film performance in March by Why Not Theatre, in which renowned environmentalists Dr. David Suzuki and Dr. Tara Cullis reflect on their fifty-year romantic partnership and environmental advocacy. “The show invites audiences to consider whether we can learn to love the planet as deeply as we love one another,” notes Smith.
More dance…more accessibility . . . just more!
Unexpectedly, the Niagara region has also revealed a passionate interest in contemporary dance. “The fact that the PAC has successfully presented so many contemporary dance companies is at once surprising, yet so special,” Smith notes. “Being able to confidently present artists of the calibre of Ailey II not only serves local interests, but it also puts our region on the map for world-class artists expertly showcasing the full spectrum of the human condition.”
One of the PAC’s most defining values is accessibility, which is reflected in its newcomer markets, education programs, and barrier-free entry events. “It is so important that people feel like they belong at the PAC, and further, that they see themselves on our stages,” Smith stresses. “From all life’s stages, we have to carefully consider where and how we can fit into the lives of Niagarans.” Looking ahead to the next decade, she’s eager to see this ethos deepen. “I want to see more young people on our stages. I want young artists and musicians to have their first concert here. I want to see more unique and diverse partnerships come alive within our walls. This excites me!”
For Smith, the arts are “essential to the human experience”. “They contribute to our emotional, psychological and social well-being, building empathy and understanding towards ourselves and others.” And of course, they’re also an important economic engine and a catalyst for civic pride. And to deliver this value, it takes a village with a shared commitment to community and excellence. “We are a lean, sophisticated business, constantly growing skills and expertise towards providing even better service and services to the public,” she explains. “My job is to inspire them to greatness and do all that I can to create the conditions for them to not only succeed but thrive. We are nothing without our team—all of them!”
Smith is deeply, deeply grateful: “To everyone who played a role in the FirstOntario PAC bringing all of these attributes to life over the past ten years—staff, volunteers, Board members, donors, supporters and audiences—thank you for your part in igniting the spark that powers the arts in our very community.”
She is also brimming with excitement – for this incredibly dynamic tenth season, and for what lies beyond: “We can’t wait to see what we can make possible over the next decade!”
Learn more about the full season on firstontariopac.ca.
© Arpita Ghosal, Sesaya Arts Magazine 2025
