The Burlington Performing Arts Centre

The Burlington Performing Arts Centre (BPAC), located near Lake Ontario's waterfront in Burlington, is a charitable, not-for-profit organization that opened in autumn 2011. This Gold LEED Certified venue serves as a presenter, cultural developer, educator, and community hub. BPAC boasts a 720-seat Main Stage, a 165-seat Community Studio Theatre, a spacious Family Lobby, and an outdoor Plaza. It hosts over 70 professional performances annually across various genres, alongside an Education Series, festivals, workshops, and community engagement events. The facility also offers rental spaces for local groups, dance competitions, corporate events, and more. The Main Theatre is known for its excellent sight lines, world-class acoustics, and intimate performer-audience connection, featuring a six-storey fly tower and an orchestra pit. The Community Studio Theatre, a flexible black box space, accommodates smaller-scale performances and other events. The Family Lobby serves as a venue for receptions, exhibitions, and civic events. The establishment of BPAC followed rigorous planning and feasibility studies between 2003 and 2008, revealing Burlington's vibrant performing arts community. The city's 10-year Cultural Strategy of 2006 and Strategic Plan, Future Focus Seven 2007-2010, laid the groundwork for BPAC. Construction began in March 2009 after the city purchased the site in 2007 and hired Diamond and Schmitt Architects Inc. for the design. BPAC is distinguished as the first city project to receive LEED certification and the only performing arts centre in Ontario to achieve LEED Gold certification.