We respectfully acknowledge that we are in Menaquesk (MEH-nah-GWESK), Saint John, on the traditional territory of Wolostoqiyik/Wolastoqey (wool-as-ta-gwey) (Maliseet), and we recognize the enduring presence and relationships of the Mi’gmaq/Mi’kmaq (meeg-mah) and Peskotomuhkati (Passamaquoddy) peoples in this region.
This land is part of the unceded and unsurrendered territories of these Nations and is covered by the Peace and Friendship Treaties of the 1700’s, which continue to shape responsibilities and relationships today.
We honour the Elders, past and present, and commit to moving beyond acknowledgement through respectful partnerships, learning, and action.
ATLANTIC PRESENTERS ASSOCIATION Respectful Events & Spaces
We, the Atlantic Presenters Association (members, board and staff), and the attendees at our events, agree that by being here we commit to contributing to a space that is accessible and free from oppression, harassment, and discrimination. At our gatherings, we will treat ourselves and each other with respect and dignity, regardless of age, race, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, religion and all our other diverse identities. We will not tolerate any acts of racism, white supremacy, sexism, heterosexism and cissexism, homophobia / queerphobia and transphobia, sizeism, ableism, ageism, or physical and sexual violence and harassment.
Anyone not abiding by this agreement may be asked to leave the event, venue or space by the organizers.
Need to report an incident of harassment or similar?
If you need to report an incident of harassment please use the confidential online form or email info@atlanticpresenters.ca, or speak directly to one of APA’s staff on site.
Rewind Protocol
Safer Spaces Initiative
We are trying something new here. We aren’t sure it will be effective, or the most effective way to manage tough situations, but we care about our people, and it’s important to us to try to create safer spaces.
The APA are always seeking to evolve and improve the safety of our event spaces. We’ve been exploring how we can manage moments of tension, misunderstanding, or harm so that people feel seen and heard.
At Convergence (Oct. 2025), during our focus session on Community Agreements and Accountability Measures, one thing was repeated by many voices: the value of a Pause. From that, we generated a possible protocol to help us (or anyone!) intervene in difficult moments:
React / Rewind / Respond / Regroup / Report (if required)
React: If you have a reaction, you can call a pause/rewind – anyone can call a pause.
Reflect: Take a moment to consider impact and intentions.
Rewind: Review the inciting phrase or situation – eg. can we “rewind” _______ and find a different word?
Respond: We can revise or reframe, understand impact, learn alternatives or updates; let the “cause of the pause” consider their impact vs. their intentions and have an opportunity to revise; hold space for what’s coming up for the caller of the pause. We can ask, what does this moment need?
Regroup: What does regrouping look like for each person? Maybe it’s taking a break to regulate, going for a walk, switching to a different session, or calling a staff member aside for a conversation, etc. Do whatever you need to do to take care of your nervous system; if you are activated/dysregulated by this, please bring it to the staff, and we will hold space for you.
ATLANTIC PRESENTERS ASSOCIATION Showcasing Equity Statement
Contact East is the Atlantic Presenters Association’s hallmark event and Atlantic Canada’s performing arts booking conference. The annual event provides an essential and inspiring experience for delegates bringing together regional, national, and international performing arts presenters, managers, and agents, to see performances which showcase a diverse range of artistic genres, including but not limited to music, cabaret, dance, disability arts, circus arts, comedy, youth-oriented programming, and cultural performances.
Contact East is a four-day showcase and professional development conference complete with approximately 30 artist performances, showcase and pitch sessions, as well as an unprecedented opportunity for presenters to network and learn from some of the best in the business from the Atlantic Provinces, across Canada, and internationally.
APA is further committing to its mandate to present a diverse range of artists from a variety of backgrounds. APA acknowledges that past artist selection processes were not fair or equitable and understands the value that lived experiences and community-based practices have when it comes to making decisions. APA is committed to implementing and upholding equitable practices in choosing artists to perform at Contact East 2024 and beyond.
The artists chosen by the selection committee shall have equitable representation across populations, including Indigenous, Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, Deaf, Disability, and Mad arts communities. Atlantic Presenters Association is dedicated to providing a space that is accessible, inclusive, and free from oppression, harassment, and discrimination.
To further ensure a fair selection process, APA will be putting out a call for applications for interested individuals to be on this year’s selection committee. In the past, Contact East’s selection committee has been hand-picked from APA’s membership rather than opened up to the larger presenting community. The goal of this change is to make sure the committee represents a cross-section of different artistic genres and cultural backgrounds, resulting in an overall diverse representation of committee members to ensure the selection process is as fair and equitable as possible.
