About us
The FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre (PAC) is a vibrant cultural hub and charitable organization located in downtown St. Catharines, the largest city in the Niagara Region of Ontario, Canada. The PAC aims to engage people in exceptional live arts experiences and to enrich the lives of the citizens of St. Catharines and the Niagara region, while providing a world-class venue for local, national and international artists and community arts organizations to flourish. The PAC opened its doors in 2015 as part of a transformative effort to rejuvenate St. Catharines’ downtown area. and has been a key catalyst for downtown development and an economic driver for Niagara, with over 40 new businesses opening with an economic spin-off of $17 million. The PAC team believes that healthy communities are built through arts and cultural engagement, and that our individual and collective identities are shaped through the stories told. They engage audiences across the Niagara region and work to remove barriers for under-served community members to experience the arts.
The PAC features four performance venues: Partridge Hall, Recital Hall, Robertson Theatre, The Film House as well as the outdoor The Mann Raceway Plaza. Current PAC programs include: PAC Presents Live Performance Series, The Film House - an indie film house offering unique films and community screenings in a modern cinematic environment as well as facilitated community discussions, imPACt Education Series and access initiatives such as Pay-What-You-Can, discounted ticket prices for patrons under 30 years of age and partnership with the CanadaNOO program to provide newcomers with access to free performing arts and film experiences. The PAC employs 27 full-time staff, 48 part-time staff, a pool of IATSE union workers and over 75 engaged and dedicated volunteers.