Get to know us

Our Mission

Our Mission is to create unforgettable moments for an increasingly diverse audience.

Our Vision

To inspire the realization of creative potential and to be a catalyst for powerful ideas that influence our world.

Our Values

We are passionate about the arts, our community, our relationships, and our work.

Passion

We honour our increasingly diverse community and seek out ways to be more inclusive.

Diversity

Integrity

We create safe spaces. We are professional, honest, and fulfil our obligations.

We listen, evolve, adapt, and change.

Growth

Board of Directors

John Birrell - Past President

My name is John Birrell and currently I am the Past President of the Board for Key City Theater.

I acknowledge that I live and work on the traditional territory of the Ktunaxa peoples and I deeply respect the land’s history and the indigenous communities.

I worked in the ski industry for over 40 years as a ski instructor, ski coach, ski guide, manager and senior manager. My career was dedicated to teaching, coaching, managing and mentoring at all levels of the organizations I worked for. I also worked in the construction industry for the first 20 years as the ski industry in the early years was not a year round job. This experience was something I used in the later full time years at all the resorts I worked for as it related to resort expansion and development.

I have a two year certificate in Management training as well as certifications as a ski instructor, ski coach, ski guide and avalanche tech.

I am currently in year 5 on the Key City board. I have sat on many boards over the years, initially related to career and work and after retirement community based not for profit organizations.

My focus has been on the business side of the organization as well as involvement in fundraising.

My vision for the organization is for financial stability so that the management team can meet their goals of improving facilities and delivering unique and entertaining programming at an attractive price for the patrons in our region.

My interests have been volunteering, reading, golf and skiing in the winter along with travel when possible.

Amanda Harwood - Vice President

My Name is Amanda Harwood, I am the Vice President of the Board of Directors.

I am the Human Resources Manager for the Ktunaxa Nation Council and have been proud to act as the Vocal Director for the last 4 Key City Theatre productions.

I acknowledge that I live, work and play in the unceded territory of the Ktunaxa people. I am committed to reconciliation through learning, sharing and protecting Ktunaxa culture through my work and personal experiences.

I am actively a Registered Vocational Professional with 8 years experience in employment counselling, and am working toward CHRP designation.

I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Windsor, and am in the process of obtaining my Bachelors of Human Resources and Labour Relations from Athabasca University.

I am a City appointed member of the board, and joined in January 2022. I am eager to continue to serve the board and grow my experience and contributions

I was involved in the development of the updated Mission, Vision and Values for the board.

I would love to see the Key City Theatre keep growing its reputation for developing strong performers from the community through our productions and workshops. I am enjoying watching its progress toward inclusivity and accessibility.

I enjoy painting (water colour and acrylic), crocheting and performing in the KCT productions :)

Michelle McCue - President


I am Michelle McCue (she/her) Secretary and board member of the Key City Theatre Society.
I respectfully acknowledge that we are living in the homelands of the Ktunaxa people.
I worked for TD Canada Trust for 25 years, 10 of those years as a manager. I transitioned to the dental field and was the office manager of our clinic for 11 years.
I am now semi-retired, but still enjoy contributing to the success of the office.
I hold an Office Administration diploma from The College of the Rockies, and have taken several university level courses in Literature, Spanish and the Humanities.
I have sat on the board since October 2021.
I am the Secretary for the board, the chair of the Human Resources Committee, and an active member of the Fundraising Committee.
Key City Theatre is an integral part of Cranbrook and surrounding communities. The Arts are vital to a healthy, thriving, inclusive community. I am proud to be a person who is passionate about moving our mission forward, which is to “create unforgettable moments for an increasingly diverse audience”.
Theatre is my first passion. I have acting in, produced, directed, and volunteered for several productions with Cranbrook Community Theatre as well as the signature shows held at Key City Theatre. I also enjoy reading, and video gaming.

Kyla Knull - Treasurer

I am Kyla Knull, a new director for the Key City Theatre Society board.

I come to you as a steward of Kanata, a homeland we share from sea to sea.

I have 20 plus years in retail management, specializing in fostering the development of interdependent promotable individuals across varying backgrounds and skill sets.

I have no formal education through accredited institutions. I have worked and earned my way into any position or designation I have assumed.

I have provided services and consulting to several other councils and businesses over the past several years, holding positions such as secretary, vice president and store manager.

I look forward to actively contributing to my local community through my Key City Theatre Society role as a board director.

I am eager to foster the same sense of wonder I felt as a young Cranbrook resident experiencing the culture, wonder and inspiration of theater performances.

I am exceptionally passionate about cooking, singing and aerial yoga. I love to seize opportunities to engage and help others, while delving into new growth opportunities. Currently I provide care to my significantly disabled spouse and our special needs teenagers.

Trina Ayling - Secretary

I am Trina Ayling (she/her); Secretary

Kiʔsuʔk kyukyit. I am honoured to work, live and play in the homelands of the Ktunaxa people. The footprint of our School District is fully contained within the Ktunaxa Nation, including the communities of ʔaq'am and Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡiʾit.

I have served, and continue to serve on the School District 5 (SD5), Southeast Kootenay Board of Education since 2008.

I have a business background and have worked in private, Crown, Federal and not-for-profit sectors.

I served on the Key City Theatre Board, as an SD5 representative, working in the capacity of Secretary from 2016 to 2020. Having served for the maximum six (6) year term, I stepped away from the Key City Theatre Society and returned again in December, 2022.

I had the pleasure to be involved in the planning and execution of Key City Theatre’s 25th Anniversary; specifically. the silent auction fundraising portion of the event. I have also been a member of the Steering Committee for a number of years, and was involved in the renovation process of 2020-21

I hope to see the continued growth of Key City Theatre both as a facility and venue and as a gathering place for the people in our communities.

I enjoy my work on both the SD5 Board of Education and the Key City Theatre Society. I also enjoy hiking, boating, snowshoeing, spending time with family & friends and so much more. I love living in the East Kootenay and being a part of the community here!

Douglas Francis Mitchell – Director

Douglas Francis Mitchell – Director (I often use my full name because there is another Doug Mitchell in Cranbrook)

I had the privilege of working with the Ktunaxa Nation for three years. I appreciate their commitment to being stewards of this land and sharing it with us.

I spent thirty years in education as a teacher and administrator. My last position was principal of Laurie Middle School. I also worked for the College of the Rockies and the Ktunaxa Nation Council.

My education includes Bachelor of Science (PE), University of Saskatchewan; Bachelor of Education (English), University of Saskatchewan; Post Graduate Diploma (Ed. Admin.), University of Saskatchewan; Masters of Arts (Education), San Diego State University.

I have been on the board for two years. I am part of the Human Resources and the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committees.

The arts sustain us, especially in difficult economic times. If we aren’t creating, we are criticizing. Arts and culture inspire us and encourage us to be better human beings. The Key City Theatre is vital in promoting the arts and presenting events by professional touring artists.

My vision for the future of the organization is to continue to be a central promoter of the arts in our community; to be a safe, welcoming place for all citizens.

Music has been a big part of my life. I play guitar and banjo and write songs. I perform solo for conferences, colleges and schools and also with The TuneSmiths. I have played hockey all my life and still play twice a week. I appreciate living in the Kootenays, giving me the opportunity to ski, hike, swim and paddleboard right in my backyard.

Leslie Molnar - Director


I am Leslie Molnar (she/her), a retired post-secondary educator and a new Board member of the Key City Theatre Society. I am grateful to live and play on the beautiful and unceded traditional territory of the Ktunaxa peoples.

I worked at the College of the Rockies for 35 years, teaching post-secondary mathematics and statistics, as well as being active in the local, provincial, and national faculty unions. I loved teaching, especially working with students to help them reach their goals and potentials. In my union work, I endeavored to help create and maintain a fair and respectful work environment. I have been President of the local faculty association, Vice President of the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of BC, and President of the National Union of the Canadian Association of University Teachers. I also briefly served as Education Council Chair at College of the Rockies and, through that role, was a member of the College Board of Governors.

I hold a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Victoria and a Masters of Arts in Instruction and Curriculum from Gonzaga University. My most recent research was in the area of Gamification of the teaching of Mathematics.

I retired from teaching just over a year ago and am excited about my new role as a Board member. I have some experience with financial oversight, governance, and equity/diversity/inclusion committees, and hope to be able to contribute to discussions and work on these topics.

I lived in Cranbrook when the Key City Theatre was first built. I remember the community discussions which led to its creation. I'm so impressed by the depth and breadth of cultural experiences made available to our community because of the theatre and its staff and volunteers. There is truly something for everyone in the variety of programming that is offered. I envision more and more community members appreciating the value of the arts, becoming aware of the theatre's offerings, and actually attending performances at the theatre.

In my free time, I sing in a choir, I'm new to taking part in plays, and I play the piano. I love to walk, hike, ski, and camp in our beautiful area. Spending time with family and friends is also very important to me.

Darryl Bishop - Director


I am Darryl Bishop, a retired banker and an active Board Member of the The Key City Theatre Society

I acknowledge that I live on the traditional territory of the Ktunaxa people, and I deeply respect the land's history and its indigenous communities

I worked for nearly 30 years in the financial services industry in Manitoba, Ontario and lastly British Columbia.

I have an undergraduate degree from the University of Alberta

I recently joined the board and hope to add value in all areas but particularly the oversight of the financial side of the society's operations.

I have had a lifelong interest in the arts. I served on the boards of Entertainment Series in two different communities and am a long time Chair of the Cranbrook Sunrise Rockies Film Series. I have been an active Rotarian for 35 years - past President of two different clubs.

I have enormous respect for the value the staff and volunteers of the Key City Theatre provide to this community. The variety and quality of the entertainment and special events provided are outstanding. Opportunities abound for local musicians and actors to showcase talents. I want to see the Key City Theatre thrive now and into the future

I enjoy travelling, camping, golf and films and most importantly family.