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In this issue:

CITT/ICTS News:

Message from Executive Director

2026 Board Election - Candidate Slate

Board Spotlight

Canadian Theatre Training Summit

CITT/ICTS Awards

Education Commission

EXPO-SCÈNE 2026

Rendez-vous 2026

Regional Section News

Welcome New Members!

Industry News

Resources

CareerHub

Members Area

Thanks to our Contributing Members

Advertising Space

VERSION FRANÇAISE

Message from CITT/ICTS Executive Director

On the Road, In Conversation, and Looking Ahead

March was a full and energizing month for the National Office, with preparations for EXPO-SCÈNE underway alongside a series of events, gatherings, and professional development opportunities.

The month began in Edmonton at Backstage Access. It was my first time attending this important regional event, and it was a great opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, meet with corporate members, and participate in the Roadhouse Roundtable. One of the highlights was seeing the high school students that were brought to the Jubilee to learn from backstage professionals. That day also included an entertaining health and safety session for high school teachers led by Don Parman. Thank you to CITT Alberta and Northern Alberta Jubilee for the warm welcome and for putting on the event. I’m already looking forward to next year in Calgary.

From there, I traveled to the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity to participate in their Cultural Leadership program, which focused on governance and financial resilience. After a hiatus, it’s exciting to see these programs return. The program was valuable both professionally and personally, and I’m looking forward to applying the insights I gained to support the future of CITT/ICTS.

Later in the month, I had the pleasure of representing CITT/ICTS at PACT’s Industry Welcome event for emerging professionals in the live performing arts. It was inspiring to connect with the next generation and hear from colleagues across the sector, including IATSE, the Playwrights Guild of Canada, the CAEA, and the ADC. Thank you to PACT for hosting us and inviting us to participate.

We wrapped up March by celebrating World Theatre Day in Toronto with Canada’s Theatre Museum, PACT, and the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA). On that same day, we co-hosted the National Theatre Training Summit with PACT. The summit brought together over 45 arts education and industry leaders to discuss the challenges facing arts education and training. Read more about these important conversations below.

All in all, a busy and rewarding month!

Warmly,

Jacquie 

First row: Backstage Access Technology Expo

Second row: World Theatre Day Celebration in Toronto

Photo on the left - Credit: Destination Toronto

Featured, from left to right:

Claire Hopkinson, M.S.M. (Canada's Theatre Museum), Jacquie Lazar (Canadian Institute for Theatre Technology), Brad Lepp (PACT - Professional Association of Canadian Theatres), Walter Borden, 2026 Canadian World Theatre Day Ambassador and award-winning actor and playwright, annemieke wade (TAPA - Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts), and Michael Wallace (Canada's Theatre Museum).

2026 Board of Directors Election

✨ Candidate Slate

Hello / Bonjour / Aaniin Membership,

On behalf of the National Board of Directors of the Canadian Institute for Theatre Technology / Institut canadien des technologies scénographiques (CITT/ICTS), I am pleased to share the slate of candidates for the upcoming 2026 Board elections.

The CITT/ICTS Board of Directors works to advance initiatives and programming that support, enrich, and develop the technical crafts of theatre and live performance in Canada. Board members collaborate nationally and regionally to foster professional development, knowledge sharing, and meaningful connection within our sector. 

We are especially encouraged to once again present a strong slate of nominees and illustrate the renewed interest from our membership in helping guide the future of CITT/ICTS. This engagement reflects the vitality of our community and the commitment of members across the country to strengthening the technical and production sectors of theatre and live events.

Thank you, as always, to our members and contributing supporters for your continued engagement and commitment to CITT/ICTS. 

Autumn Coppaway

CITT/ICTS Vice-president and Chair of the Nomination Committee

There are 4 Director positions up for election and there are 5 candidates:

The following current Board members have agreed to stand for re-election:

• Peter Spike Lyne (incumbent, currently Director-at-Large)
• Debbie Richardson (incumbent, currently Director-at-Large)

The following members are seeking election:

• Jess McNabb
• Jason Vergano
• Kyla Werrett

Voting opens on May 19, 2026. Ballots will be emailed to members with the full candidate descriptions and a link to vote. Voting will remain open for 30 days, and results of the election will be announced at the Annual General Meeting in August 2026.

Over the next several months, we will be highlighting the work of our board members, to recognize the work they do and giving you the opportunity to get to know them better.

This month we are pleased to feature Autumn Coppaway.

Autumn has been a dedicated member of the CITT/ICTS National Board of Directors for six years. She has served as Vice-president for the past three years and will conclude her term in August 2026. She is currently the Associate Producer of Indigenous Theatre at the National Arts Centre.

Throughout her tenure, she has been a central voice in advancing equity and strengthening governance within CITT/ICTS. She played an instrumental role in establishing the IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) Committee in 2018 and has led both the Governance and IDEA committees since 2022.

A producer and executive director of Anishinaabe descent from the Oshkiigmong (Curve Lake) First Nation, she currently lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ Nations. She also played a key role in restarting the BC Section and supporting its governance and financial development.

Beyond all of the above, Autumn remains committed to education and mentorship, contributing to several universities and theatre conservatories across the country. 

We took a moment to ask her about her career, inspiration, and recent work.

What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?

I started backstage as a rigger and lighting technician, and later spent over 17 years as a technical director with companies like the Canadian Opera Company, Banff Centre for the Arts and the Grand Theatre. I moved into leadership because I wanted to help change the industry and address systemic barriers. That shift allowed me to bring more relational, Indigenous approaches into how we work and lead.

Do you have a favourite book, podcast, or resource you’d recommend?

One resource that really resonated with me is Introverted Extrovert by Susan Cain. It made me reflect on how I recharge—whether through time with people or time alone. I’ve realized that while I gain a lot from connection, laughter, and community, I also need intentional time on my own to reflect and reset.

There are a few guiding thoughts I come back to often:

• Theatre is easy—people are hard. 

- Most challenges come down to communication.

• I’ve handled bigger challenges than this. 

- It helps to remember your own experience and resilience.

- Keeping that perspective helps bring calm and clarity to stressful situations.

What has been your favourite event or memory with CITT/ICTS?

One of my favourite memories is a lighter one. After a particularly intense period of meetings in Montréal—during a time of major change for the organization and the industry—we all piled into a single van to get to the airport. It felt a bit like a clown car, but it also brought us closer together.

That moment really captured the spirit of the Board for me. Even during challenging times, there was a strong sense of camaraderie, care, and shared purpose.

As Autumn prepares to step down from the board this summer, we would like to express our sincere gratitude for her leadership, advocacy, and dedication to CITT/ICTS.

Her contributions have left a lasting impact on the organization and the broader community it serves.

Thank you, Autumn, for your tremendous work.

Best of luck with your future projects!

Recap

Canadian Theatre Training Summit

Presented by PACT & CITT/ICTS

On March 27, World Theatre Day, the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT) and CITT/ICTS hosted a national conversation bringing together education and arts leaders from across the country to address the current state of theatre training in Canada.

The summit welcomed more than 40 participants representing a broad cross-section of institutions and organizations from across the country. Discussions focused on key shared challenges, including recruitment, program restructuring/merging and financial sustainability.

Discussions focused on key shared challenges, including recruitment, program restructuring/merging, financial sustainability, and sector wide advocacy/messaging. There was broad consensus that the industry is currently facing a significant shortage of skilled arts workers – particularly in the areas of technical production and stage management. Participants noted the need for stronger, collective advocacy to address these challenges, noting that if current conditions continue to be normalized, the impacts on the industry at large will be widely felt for years to come. 

The Summit also underscored that arts education prepares students for a wide variety of career paths, opportunities that are not always clearly communicated to parents and prospective students. Participants agreed that improving awareness of these pathways will not only support students’ career planning but also strengthen recruitment into arts programs, helping to sustain the Canadian theatre sector for the future.

The Summit was an important first step for the sector to come together and have a positive and open discussion about these challenges and what, if any actionable strategies are viable.

CITT/ICTS and PACT remain committed to continuing this dialogue and advancing actionable strategies that support the long-term viability of theatre education and training across Canada.

🏆 Ongoing: Nominate your peers!

It's about recognizing the exceptional people in our field.

Many of you have shared with us how meaningful these awards are to our community, and how important it is to recognize individuals and teams whose contributions often happen behind the scenes.

Whether it's a colleague, mentor, or team, we are counting on you to nominate those whose work has made a lasting impact!

The 2026 CITT/ICTS Awards are:

• Achievement in Education Award

• Technical Innovation and Achievement Award

• Lifetime Achievement Award

• Emerging Technical Talent Award

“It feels absolutely wonderful to be recognized by your peers, especially so early on in a career. Thank you again to CITT/ICTS for encouraging these awards.”

– Brendan Briceland, Recipient of the 2025 Emerging Technical Talent Award

Next Meeting:

📆 Monday, April 20, 2026 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM ET - On Zoom

Are welcome: Educational institutions representatives.

Open to: Members and non-members.

The Commission seeks to define and uphold national standards while promoting a shared vision for training and professional development.

Educational institution representatives who wish to contribute to this commission are welcome. Please note that this meeting will not be recorded. Registration is required.

The Educational Commission is led by:

Andrea Lundy, Director of the Production Design and Technical Arts Program at the National Theatre School of Canada and Secretary of the CITT/ICTS Board of Directors.

Co-Chairs:

• Gavin Fearon, Technical Director, Brock University Department of Dramatic Arts, St Catharines, ON
• Torin Buzek, Instructor, Technical Theatre (Scenic Construction) - Fountain School of Performing Arts, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
• Travis Hatt, Assistant Professor, Program Coordinator, Theatre Production - MacEwan University, Edmonton, AB

EXPO-SCÈNE 2026

Join the cool kids in Montréal this April!

This edition of EXPO-SCÈNE is sure to be one for the books.

Excitement is building with a sold out show floor packed with many returning favourites, as well as lots of first-timers. Nearly 900 visitors from across Canada have already signed up online, and, based on previous years, many more are expected to register on-site.

Have you registered yet?

Demo Rooms

Immerse yourself in the latest innovations and solutions in sound and lighting alongside specialists, in an exclusive and intimate setting.

This year our demo rooms will welcome:

ℹ️ Demo Rooms INFO

TEC Talks

The TEC Talk program features an impressive array of topics, all presented by experts in their field. No separate registration is required for the talks. Just show up!

This year our studios will welcome:

EXPO-SCÈNE 2026 TEC Talk Studios are sponsored by:

GerrAudio Distribution

ℹ️ TEC Talks INFO

Training Courses

There are still spots left in these courses!

✅ Dataton WATCHOUT 7 Presented by Show Sage LLC

2-Day Course: April 14 + 15 | CAD$225.00 +tx

CITT/ICTS members: 20% discount

Details & Registration

✅ Fog & Haze Machines Training Presented by Hazebase

3-hour Course: April 14 | CAD$100.00 +tx

CITT/ICTS members: 15% discount

Details & Registration

✅ ACT Entertainment Smashing Buttons Tour

• grandMA3 As a Second Language 1-Day Course: April 15 | USD$250

• Getting to know grandMA3 90-min Course: 2 sessions on April 16 | FREE

CITT/ICTS members: 20% discount

Details & Registration

Don't miss any updates! Follow EXPO-SCÈNE on:

+ Sign up for EXPO-SCÈNE's email updates

August 12 - 14, 2026

Pre-conference Workshops and Training: August 10 and 11

Sessions, Tours, Social Activities, AGM: August 12 to 14

Trade Show: August 13

Early-bird delegate registration opens early May!

This year's conference will once again focus on hands-on training and educational sessions on hot industry topics. We look forward to welcoming you all to Ottawa. See below for information about our first confirmed pre-conference workshop and stay tuned for more announcements and partnerships!

The conference will be hosted at uOttawa’s Faculty of Arts, Department of Theatre, LabO building, located at 10 Daly Street, Ottawa. The venue includes the LabO performance space and rehearsal studios, and is directly connected to Arts Court, where additional spaces may be used for conference activities.

Pre-conference Workshop → Registration opens April 27

Theatrical Rigging and Counterweight Fly Systems

2-Day hands-on course with a mix of lectures and practical work.

August 11 & 12, 2026

Price: 600$ per person, lunch provided. Spots will be limited.

Instructors: Joe Henning, Wes Jenkins.

This course is an intro to stage rigging, taking place in both a classroom and theatre setting, focusing on counterweight systems. Topics will include basic rigging theory, rigging hardware, knot tying, wire rope terminations, loading weight, and hanging scenery. Also covered: spot lines, arbor assist devices, trick releases, and hanging chain motors for touring shows, rigging inspection requirements, procedures, and reports.

This course is made possible through a joint collaboration and parternships with JOEL Theatrical Rigging, the National Arts Centre, and Wes Jenkins with Down Stage Right Industries.

✨ New Update!

We're excited to announce that PMArts / TDArts will be part of this year's conference, offering pre-conference training on Tuesday, August 11th. Stay tuned for more details!

Travel & Accommodation

Joining us from outside Ottawa? Plan your trip and book your accommodation as soon as possible!

Official conference hotels:

DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown Ottawa

Rate: $179/night

Special rate deadline: July 09, 2026

Les Suites Hôtel Ottawa

Modern One Bedroom Suites: $239/night

Modern Executive One Bedroom Suites: $269/night

Modern Two Bedroom Suites: $339/night

Special rate deadline: June 30, 2026

Air Travel Discounts

Enjoy 5% to 10% discounts on tickets with Air Canada, WestJet and Porter with our conference promo codes.

Rail Transport Discounts

Enjoy 10% discount on tickets with VIA Rail with our conference promo code.

→ Go to Travel & Accommodation

📣 Ongoing: Call for Sessions

Contribute to knowledge sharing and skills development at Rendez-vous!

We are calling on experts, innovators, and thought leaders from across the live entertainment industry to submit proposals for engaging and impactful sessions, roundtables and panel discussions that will inspire, educate, and challenge attendees.

Rendez-vous is an excellent opportunity for the industry to engage in conversations that drive innovation and creativity and to participate in high-quality training that helps workers advance in their careers.

We welcome proposals from members and non-members.

Don't miss any updates! Follow Rendez-vous on:

Quebec Section - CQICTS: Events as part of EXPO-SCÈNE 2026

Join us!

🔹 Panel discussion:

Innovation and eco-responsibility in stage technologies

Presented by CQICTS and Écoscéno as part of EXPO-SCÈNE 2026 TEC Talks.

Can innovation contribute to environmental sustainability? What are the points of tension and convergence? What are the challenges and opportunities, and how can we shape the future we want for the performing arts?

The CQICTS and Écoscéno are joining forces and leveraging their networks to highlight eco-friendly innovations currently being developed in the field of stage technologies, in collaboration with seasoned professionals.

The discussion will be followed by an open forum, giving industry leaders in attendance the opportunity to showcase their experiences and the innovations currently being developed within their companies.

Moderator: Anne-Catherine Lebeau

Panel: Martin Labrecque, Louis-Philippe Thibaudeau, Alexis Delage, Margot Lallemand.

In French | Wednesday, April 15, 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM

EXPO-SCÈNE 2026 - Studio 1

Free. Visitor registration is required.

With thanks to the Caisse de la Culture - Desjardins and CITT/ICTS for their support.

⇢ Details

🔹 TD Roundtable:

The Challenges of Technical Direction: Technological Changes, AI, and Recruitment

Presented by Place des Arts and CQICTS as part of EXPO-SCÈNE 2026.

This roundtable is intended for touring and venue technical directors of all experience levels.

Technical management operates in an environment where change is accelerating. Join us for an important discussion on three major challenges currently facing this discipline:

1. The acceleration of technological change

2. The impact of artificial intelligence

3. Talent recruitment and retention

The roundtable will be hosted by:

• Martin Saintonge, Director of Producer Services and Production
• Eric Fontaine, Technical Director of Salle Pauline-Julien, Instructor, AEC in Technical Direction of Artistic and Cultural Events - Continuing Education Department - Cégep de La Pocatière, and Member of the CQICTS Board of Directors

Wednesday, April 15, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier de la Place des Arts

Spots are limited. Free.

⇢ Details & Registration

Recap: Training and sessions as part of Backstage Access 2026

The Alberta Section again contributed to the annual Backstage Access Production Expo in Edmonton.

We held with two days of sold-out training on ETC lighting consoles: a Level 4 training day, followed by a combined Advanced Effects and Busking training day.

Other highlights of the event included sessions on: The Live Mixing Summit, Building DMX and Networked Systems, the Roadhouse Roundtable, In-Ear Monitoring Fundamentals, Live Event Public Safety, and Rigging Safety. We also hosted a session on our Safe Stages update and our quest for funding. 

CITT/ICTS's Executive Director and President-Elect attended and spent time at our trade show table connecting with local members.

We are looking forward to doing it all again next year in Calgary!

SUSTAINING

Illusion Universe, Mississauga, ON

INDIVIDUAL

Tauran Wood, Calgary, AB

Hayden Kristjanson, Burlington, ON

Aalliyah Dustyhorn, Saskatoon, SK

STUDENT

Nate Lesser, Sackville, NB

Callboard - a Forum of Best Practices

Published in:  On-Deck / Scène

Kroma paints, Vancouver

by Alan Brodie

Event Safety Alliance Canada – April Webinars

▹ Beyond the Curtain Webinar Series:

Inside the Event Command Centre

April 2, 2026 - Online | 1PM - 2PM EDT

Free for ESAC Members | Non-members $25

Join ESAC for a practical conversation on what we’ve seen and what we’ve used inside event command centres—how teams build simple, scalable systems designed for clarity (not perfection). We’ll share lessons learned, common roadblocks and blind spots, and the real challenge of creating learning loops (debriefs, feedback, iteration) that actually stick across events of different sizes and complexity.

Moderator: Kevin Jones

Lecturers: Daniel Doan, Nathaniel Kennedy, Jordan Myers.

→ Info & Registration

▹ Webinar :

Énergies Critiques en Événementiel - Assurer la fiabilité à tout moment (Critical Power for Events - Ensuring Reliability at All Times)

April 14, 2026 - Online | 1:30PM EDT

Free | In French

A discussion session will follow the presentation to allow participants to ask questions and share their thoughts. With: Jean-François Blais

→ Zoom Registration

SMArts Hybrid Conference is Back!

April 16 to 27, 2026

York University’s School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design + Online

After a one-year hiatus, SMArts is back and ready to welcome you in person or online to explore diverse aspects of stage managing through a variety of deep learning sessions.

Through interactive courses and open discussion, the 2026 conference aims to help professionals share their experience and knowledge with each other. The goal is to provide a comfortable environment in which new and experienced stage managers can perfect their craft.

This Stage Management Conference is for:

• the student Stage Manager who wants to know more about their career choice;
• the Apprentice Stage Manager who wants to hone their skills;
• the experienced Stage Manager who is looking for diversification within their field.

Registration options include:

Single Course | Conference Pass In-Person | Conference Pass Online

→ Info & Registration

Pyrotechnics Safety and Legal Awareness Virtual Course

with Gun-Smoke Canada

Next course:

Saturday April 25, 2026 | 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM (ET) | On Zoom

Special Effect Pyrotechnics (Type F.3) are high-hazard pyrotechnics articles designed for use by professionals. These articles include items such as Gerbs, Mines, and Comets. These articles would be used in theatre productions, concerts and on film sets.

This course is the mandatory first step to a certification as Pyrotechnician - Fireworks/Operator by the Explosives Regulatory Division (ERD). This is a Federal certification, required and recognized from Coast to Coast.

Regular price: $225.00 + HST = $254.25

CITT/ICTS Members get a $25 discount!

Price for CITT/ICTS members: $200 + HST = $226.00

Go to My Membership Benefits for details & promo code.

→ Info & Registration

Hazard Identification Online Course

With Don Parman, Backstage-PASS

Monday, April 27, 2026 | 12 pm to 2 pm EDT | Online

Cost: CA$35.00 (+ Eventbrite fees)

Join Don Parman for a two-hour course on hazards and how to handle them. This course will help you navigate the various hazards you are likely to encounter in the live event world. Targeted topics:

• Hazard Categories
• Controls
• Reporting

→ Registration

Submit press releases, resources, and information about upcoming events for consideration in the Monthly Newsletter and the Industry News section of our website.

Newsletter deadline: please submit your news before the 25th of the month.

⇢ Send here

ESTA Standards Watch

The latest issue is now available.

ONLINE READS

from our Media Partners

LSA

March 2026

Read online here

TFWM

March 2026

Read online here

Qui Fait Quoi

March 2026 (in French)

Read here (pdf, $5)

Did you know?

⇢ Apprenticeship and Professional development postings are free.

⇢ Job postings and Apprenticeships are also shared across our social networks.

JOIN OR RENEW

It’s About Networking, Best Practices and Sharing of Knowledge!

CITT/ICTS members represent multiple fields of interest and expertise in all areas of production for the live entertainment industry. Join CITT/ICTS or renew your membership today to strengthen the voice of the Canadian live performance community.

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