Theatre OntarioTheatre Ontario is an association of community, educational and professional theater organizations and individuals dedicated to developing and maintaining high-quality theater in all parts of the province that is accessible and reflects all segments of our society. They act as the center of the province's information network for those who work in the theatre. They help develop and promote artistic, technical and management learning and training opportunities for individuals and theater companies across the province. Members of Theater Ontario Celebrate excellence in theater through festivals, showcases and awards programs. It also provides access to arts and culture in communities and schools across Ontario. It actively supports networks of dedicated theater workers who promote cultural tourism, training, festivals, arts education, information sharing, health and safety issues and audience development. Ontario Theater was born in 1971, as a result of a meeting of theater leaders at the Ontario Theater Conference in Lake Couchiching. From the beginning it was decided that Theater Ontario would be a unique service organization with members, programs and services for all sectors that make up theater in the province: community, educational, youth and professional. Formed in August 1971, Theater Ontario immediately filled the void created by the demise of the Dominion Drama Festival. Theater Ontario's first employee was the late Maggie Bassett, a pioneer of dynamic training programs that benefited the entire province. The Dominion Drama Festival was a bilingual theater festival, which ran from 1932 to 1978 and was a breeding ground for many of the artists who laid the foundation for modern Canadian theatre. It was founded as a pan-Canadian amateur competition that would bring together regional winners to compete for a series of prizes awarded by British and French judges. The awards would include awards for acting, design, direction, original writing and best production. The onset of Quebec nationalism and accusations – probably false – of federalist or Central Canadian bias in judgments and policymaking marked the beginning of the end of DDF. The competitions ended in 1970 when the DDF became Théâtre Canada and a showcase for regional theatre. In 1978 the festival's Ottawa venue closed. Theater Ontario was founded around the same time as this national festival closed.