Shaw Festival
- Written by: Jon Duschinsky
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Where they Were
One of Canada’s leading theatre organizations. Three theatres. 350,000 annual visitors. A beloved institution facing a practical challenge: rebuild an aging theatre and raise significant capital.
But underneath that was a bigger ambition leadership could feel, and hadn’t yet fully named.
The ask started as fundraising. The opportunity was transformation.
What was off Centre
Shaw had momentum. But not yet a shared story about where it was going.
There was belief in the institution, but not yet conviction in the future. The organization knew it wanted to become more than a theatre company.
It needed clarity and alignment around what that actually meant.
“People came to the table because of the boldness of the vision.”
Finding Centre
centrepoint worked with leadership to define the vision beneath the project.
The breakthrough: Shaw wasn’t rebuilding a theatre.It was becoming a centre for curiosity, communication and human connection.
That became the foundation for a strategic plan and a transformational campaign.
From there the work expanded:
• Clarifying core competencies
• Creating new revenue pathways
• Supporting internal readiness and growth
• Helping teams understand their role in what came next
One idea unlocked the shift: What Shaw does is put shows on stages. What Shaw knows how to do is create empathetic connections.
What Changed
New programs emerged. New capabilities were created.
Donors and the government rallied behind a vision that felt bigger than infrastructure. More than $120M+ raised. Not for buildings but for what they could make possible.
“I understand where I fit now.”
“This feels bigger than theatre.”
Jon Duschinsky
I connect people with purpose.
My purpose is to help organizations and leaders find their centrepoint — their purpose — and through the clarity and energy that this unleashes, create more meaningful relationships and more impact on the things they truly care about. Purpose is where capitalism meets sustainability. And pretty soon, it will be the only way to do business.
Find your centre.
Move with clarity. If your organization feels heavier than it should, there's usually a reason.
Let’s find what’s getting in the way and what becomes possible when people, leadership, and strategy start moving together.
