On Saturday, May 23, the Firehall wrapped up its 2025-2026 season with our sold out annual gala. We had a wonderful time honoring Carol Lee for all her amazing work towards re-energizing and creating wonderful change in Vancouver’s historic Chinatown – change that ripples positively into the Firehall’s neighborhood. Carol Lee shows her compassion, her innovative thinking and her entrepreneurial skills everyday and many individuals are grateful for that. Thank you, Carol.
The night offered wonderful entertainment, heartfelt tributes, laughter and generosity. Combined with a donation from an anonymous donor, close to $200,000 was raised! These funds are destined to be invested in the many creative artists the Firehall supports, our community programming, and the maintenance and ongoing animation of this 120 year old heritage building. We are grateful to all who donated items to our silent and live auction and to all those who bid. And a huge thank you to those who came to the gala and raised their paddles so generously.
As we wrap up this season, we want to celebrate the theatre, dance and music artists who took to the stage, and the creative artists and arts administrators who made it possible.
Top row (L to R): Cast of House of Folk by Jon Benjamin Photography; Steve O’Connell in Between Breaths by Steel Cut Media; Krystle Dos Santos by Rebecca Roberts
Bottom row (L to R): Marlene Ginader in Canadian Psycho by Chelsey Stuyt Photography; Cast of Enemy Lines by Marlowe Porter; Anita Wittenberg and Tyson Night in The Undeniable Accusations of Red Cadmium Light by Jon Benjamin Photography
We took audiences from the cold waters of the Atlantic with Robert Chafe’s Between Breaths to a wild and hilarious ride with Maureen Ginader’s Canadian Psycho. Hiromoto Ida brought us the powerful Vacant Lot while a wonderful team of musicians celebrated Canadian folk/rock music in House of Folk. We danced and moved to the music of Motown with Krystle Dos Santos and her band not once but twice and learned and felt compassion for those in Mayumi Lashbrook’s Enemy Lines and Drew Hayden Taylor’s The Undeniable Accusations of Red Cadmium Light. What a great season it was!!
We will announce our 2026-2027 season within the next month and hope you will join us for another amazing year. Rumor has it there will be some fabulous artists involved – stay tuned!