Recognizing Outstanding Leadership in Canadian Theatre with the Mallory Gilbert Leadership Award

May 24, 2025

Toronto, Ontario. (May 24, 2025) – The Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT) is pleased to announce Claire Sakaki, Executive Director of Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival (Vancouver, BC) as the 2025 recipient of the Mallory Gilbert Leadership Award, recognizing her outstanding administrative and managerial leadership within the Canadian Theatre community.  Claire has chosen Stacey Menzies, Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival’s Business and Employee Relations Manager as her protégé.

PACT also awarded a Lifetime Honorary Memberships to David Nairn, retiring Artistic Director for Theatre Orangeville.

Mallory Gilbert Leadership Award Recipient: Claire Sakaki

“I have been in the theatre for my entire career and I have never in all my years met anyone like Claire” says nominator and Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival’s Founding Artistic Director Christopher Gaze “she is the most accomplished arts administrator I have ever met and Claire has been invited to run arts organizations across Canada and the USA because they see her collaborative brilliance, her resourcefulness, and her creative mind.”

“I am deeply honoured and grateful to receive the 2025 Mallory Gilbert Leadership Award. To be recognized in this way by our national theatre community—a community I hold in the highest regard—is truly humbling” says Claire Sakaki. “I had the privilege of knowing Mallory early in my career and learned so much from her example. Her legacy of generosity, insight, and unwavering commitment to the arts has been a lasting source of inspiration for me, as it has been for so many others. It is a particular honour to be counted among the remarkable past recipients of this award—leaders who have helped shape the fabric of Canadian theatre, many of whom I’m fortunate to call friends.

Prior to being Executive Director at Bard on the Beach, Claire was the Producer of Toronto’s Soulpepper Theatre Company, Business Manager for Toronto Dance Theatre, Company Manager for the Weston Playhouse, Founding Producer of Theatrefront and worked in corporate development for the Canadian Opera Company. Claire is a graduate of the Non-Profit Executive Program (Georgetown University), Income Manager’s Program (University of Waterloo) and Queen’s University (BAH Psychology). Claire received the national John Hobday Award in Arts Management, sits on the Board of the Vancouver International Wine Festival, and is a member of the Labour Relations Committee for PACT, Advisory Committee for Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre (vAct) and the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee for the City of Vancouver.

Mallory Gilbert Leadership Award Protégé: Stacey Menzies

“One of the most meaningful aspects of this recognition is the opportunity to highlight a protégé. I’m thrilled to honour Stacey Menzies, an extraordinary colleague and a powerful force in our sector’” says Claire. “Stacey is a brilliant, thoughtful, and dedicated arts administrator whose leadership is already making a significant impact. Working with her is a true joy, and I have no doubt her future will be every bit as inspiring as her present”

“I can’t think of anyone more deserving of the Mallory Gilbert Leadership Award. Working alongside Claire has been an incredible privilege—her empathetic leadership, collaborative spirit, and dedication to empowering those around her is truly inspiring” says Stacey Menzies” Being selected as her protégé means the world to me. I’ve learned so much from her, and I feel incredibly lucky to work with her every day.”

Stacey joined Bard on the Beach in 2008 through its extraordinary volunteer program. After falling in love with the Festival and its incredible community, she transitioned to a staff position in 2013. Over the years, she has grown within the organization, taking on a variety of roles across the Box Office and Operations teams. Today, as Business and Employee Relations Manager, she works closely with the Executive Director and leadership team to support the talented individuals who bring their creativity and passion to every aspect of the Festival. A lifelong learner, Stacey holds both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s degree in Linguistics from the University of British Columbia and is currently pursuing a Human Resources Management Certificate at Simon Fraser University.

Honorary Lifetime Membership Recipient: David Nairn

David Nairn has been the Artistic Director for Theatre Orangeville for 26 seasons. Recently, he announced his plan to “move on” to new creative adventures but will assume the role of Artistic Director Emeritus on July 1, 2025, a part-time role that will allow him to further develop and promote Theatre Orangeville initiatives, including their Creative Partners On Stage neuro-diverse programming. David directed more than 90 plays and musicals, many of them world premieres, and he remains passionately dedicated to the creation, development and production of Canadian theatrical works that enrich, entertain, and deepen our understanding of ourselves as a community, as a people and as a nation.

David is a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and is a Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellow, both accolades acknowledge his commitment to, and involvement in, local volunteerism. David has also been an active member of PACT’s advocacy committee for the past 20 years.

About the Mallory Gilbert Leadership Award

Launched to mark PACT’s 30th anniversary, the Mallory Gilbert Leadership Award has recognized to 17 recipients, and 20 protégés. The Award is named in honour of Mallory Gilbert. Gilbert was General Manager of Tarragon Theatre for 34 years, a founder of PACT, 20-year serving PACT Board Member and mentor to countless aspiring arts administrators.

We thank the Mallory Gilbert Leadership Award Selection Committee for their time and dedication. We also thank all the nominators for showcasing the breadth of amazing leadership in the Canadian Theatre Community.  

About PACT 

PACT is the collective voice of professional Canadian theatres, a leader in the performing arts community, and a devoted advocate of the value of live performance. PACT represents over 170 professional English-speaking theatre companies operating in communities across the country, ranging from the largest performing arts organizations in Canada, to smaller theatre companies that serve their audiences in a wide variety of communities; from rural to urban, commercial to independent, theatre for young audiences, culturally specific companies, and everything else in between.

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Media Contact:

Ainslee Jessiman

Membership & Communications Manager, PACT

ainsleej@pact.ca

416-595-6455 ext. 1519

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