Bill Millerd has devoted his life to theatre in British Columbia. As Artistic Managing Director of the Arts Club Theatre Company in Vancouver, he has devoted more than four decades to nurturing the growth of professional theatre in BC.

Under his leadership, the third largest theatre company in Canada is robust, strong and has a huge audience – more than 185,000 patrons annually. The three venues: the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage, the Granville Island Stage, and the Goldcorp Stage allow promotion of all types of theatre from well-known musicals to new productions, often in partnership with smaller, local theatre companies. Bill Millerd also established a touring program that provides many BC communities with the ability to develop audiences at their local theatres.

He has supported new plays that have debuted on the Arts Club stages and gone on to tour nationally and internationally – bringing the best of British Columbia to the world. A total of 535 plays have been produced during Bill’s tenure including 134 works by Canadian playwrights and 88 premiere productions of new Canadian plays. This work underscores his deep commitment to developing local talent and launching the careers of many of the country’s foremost playwrights and performers.

The newly built BMO Theatre Centre in the former Olympic Village district is witness to Mr. Millerd’s enthusiasm and fearless pursuit of betterment in support of live theatre.

Bill Millerd received the Order of Canada in 1983. In 2009, he received a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, from UBC. He resides in Vancouver and Denman Island with his partner Marsha Sibthorpe.