The Blyth Festival’s ambitious campaign to raise a half million dollars has exceeded its goal and raised a total of $510,000.00

This total includes a $250,000 lead gift from the Margaret and Andrew Stephens Family Foundation of Canmore, AB. The Stephens family wished to inspire the rest of Blyth’s donor base to contribute to the campaign, which was struck to celebrate the theatre festival’s 50th anniversary season.

A matching-gift campaign begins with a pledge from a lead donor or donors. Once the charity's other supporters contribute enough to match the lead gift, the full pledged amount is released.

Blyth’s members, patrons and donors responded to this challenge in record numbers, with 247 donors giving a median gift of $100 each. Together these donors gave a combined total of $260,000.00. Included in this amount were three generous $50,000 gifts, but Festival Artistic Director Gil Garratt points out that every gift matters, no matter how large or how small.

“Our donors give according to their means, and we’re grateful for every gift, no matter the size,” says Garratt. “It is particularly moving that so many have chosen to support us on our 50th anniversary, sending a clear message that the Festival’s work has tremendous value to them.”

Andrew Stephens of the Stephens Foundation says his family’s decision to offer a matching-gift incentive was inspired by their love of the Blyth Festival and ‘made in Canada’ theatre. “We knew the Festival was ready to grow its capacity to create new stories celebrating the people and history of this country, and we wanted to offer a solid foundation for it to undertake this work,” says Stephens.

Blyth’s regular donors rallied to the cause, recognizing the power of the matching-gift model. London-based retired United Church minister Catherine Tovell, who began supporting the theatre during the Pandemic, says "I just want to support the theatre in whatever way I can. This was a great opportunity, because any gift is really twice what you're able to give."

Garratt states the funds raised will help the Festival bolster its staff, expand its New Play Development program, and continue meeting its mission to enrich the lives of its audience by producing and developing plays that give voice to both the region and the country.

The Blyth Festival is a registered charity. Like all Canadian arts organizations, it relies on donations from corporations, foundations and individual donors to make up the difference between what can be raised through government support and reasonably priced ticket sales.

The Blyth Festival is a professional theatre located in Blyth, Ontario. It was established in 1975 with a mandate to produce professional repertory theatre that reflects the culture and concerns of the people of southwestern Ontario and beyond.

In its 50-year history, Blyth has premiered 156 new Canadian plays and entertained more than one million people from every province and territory in Canada across the United States and every corner of the globe. Plays commissioned and developed by the Blyth Festival have won Governor General’s Awards, been produced in 29 countries, and been translated into dozens of languages, including American Sign Language.