Michael J. Fox Theatre in Burnaby Shuts Down

0:00The Michael J. Fox Theatre in South Burnaby, British Columbia, is shutting down for community events starting July 1. The Burnaby School District, which runs the place, says tight budgets make it impossible to keep booking outside groups after the school year ends. This spot, built in 1993 at Burnaby South Secondary School, seats over 600 and stays packed most nights. It was named after the actor who went to school there, and for decades a nonprofit group handled operations until the district took full control late. Last year, now it's losing $150,000 just this fiscal year, forcing staff to juggle extra duties they can't sustain. If no new operator steps up, it'll only host school stuff like music shows and plays, ditching the big community productions. Union leaders are fired up, especially after 11 part-time stage hands unionized only to get layoff notices weeks later. Those workers were pulling near full-time hours at this hotspot, booked 200 nights a year.

1:00The city is eyeing costs to maybe take it over, while district leaders hope some third-party saves the day. Losing this venue hits Burnaby's art scene hard, but fingers crossed to fix, keeps the lights on for everyone. This has been Canada News Today, powered by AI.