City may play a bigger role in Michael J. Fox Theatre management

Located next to Burnaby South Secondary, Michael J. Fox Theatre has been a big part of the community since 1993. The theatre has been the venue for events from school concerts to community events touching the lives of thousands of Burnaby residents. 

“If I think back to when I was even a high school student, I used to go to Michael J. Fox for music events. And it’s something that was really important to me and a treasured part of my high school years going to Michael J. Fox, and I hope that continues,” said Kristin Schnider, chair of the Burnaby Board of Education.   

In 2024, the Michael J. Fox Theatre Society—the nonprofit that managed the theatre—lost its management. Since then, the Burnaby School District has stepped up to take on the role of managing the theatre. 

“There were people in the theatre society who resigned, and that led to the responsibility of the theatre society resting solely on the school district. So we’re obviously grateful for the community members who took part in the society and spent time volunteering over the years, but for personal reasons, I suppose, they chose not to continue volunteering,” Schnider told the Beacon. “Which is why we reached out to the city to explore new management options to ensure that the theatre continues to serve the community right.” 

Discussions about the theatre occurred during a closed council meeting on Dec. 16, and the city published Resolution No. C2024 - 160 in the agenda of council’s Jan. 14 meeting. The city, theatre, and school district sent the same press release stating that the City of Burnaby is considering taking a more significant role in managing the theatre. 

The resolution stated: 

“THAT staff be directed to collaborate with School District 41 to thoroughly investigate and develop a transition plan for the city’s operation of the Michael J. Fox Theatre to sustain community access;

THAT proposed terms, conditions, and financial implications be brought back to council for further direction; and

THAT the recommendation of the report titled ‘Michael J. Fox Theatre,’ dated Dec. 16, 2024, be released to the Open Council meeting on Jan. 14, 2025.”  

Following the school district’s request, the city hired a consultant and conducted a preliminary feasibility study. 

Emmaline Hill, the city’s director of culture, spoke to the Beacon about the city’s possible plans for the theatre. She said that the city is still early in the process and is still analyzing the feasibility study results. 

“What we’re working on now is really the deeper dive to better understand not just the role that the theatre plays, but also how it’s perceived by users and clients and audience members, things that people really value about that space, things that they might find, you know, could bear some improvement,” Hill said. “We’re also looking at other facilities in the community, what the other operating models are and how they offer service, to be able to understand the full context in which the Michael J. Fox operates. Then we’re also doing a number of assessments to understand the physical building and the equipment inside it as well, to just really inform any future ideas.” 

Hill said the city invited users of the space to participate in individual interviews, which are still underway. In the coming months, the city’s staff will take the matter to the council, who will decide how the city will participate in managing the theatre. 

“We’re not currently playing a role in management. Right now, we’re really just looking at it, evaluating whether we would get involved,” Hill said. “So the school district continues to operate the theatre, and then once we’re finished with this work and we’re able to go back to council, then there may be a decision to say, well, in fact, you know, the city is going to take on X role in operations of the theatre, but that’s yet to be determined.”

This piece was made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.

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