Talk Is Free Theatre Inc.
Publicly funded institution · Barrie, Ontario · BN 894267608RR0001 · Education in the Arts · website
Source: T3010 return, FPE 2024-09-30. Split of total expenditures ($1,611,429) as filed with the CRA.
Talk Is Free Theatre Inc. is a charitable organization based in Barrie, Ontario, classified by the CRA under education in the arts. It appears on the charity register the way hospitals, universities, and other publicly funded bodies do — to issue tax receipts — rather than as a donation-driven charity in the usual sense. In its fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, it reported $1.7M in revenue and $1.6M in expenditures.
Its funding that year was roughly 7% from donations, 73% from government. Government funding is the majority of its budget. In 2024, 6 other registered charities reported granting it a combined $112K.
Compared with 1,247 education institutions of similar size, its share of spending on mission — charitable programs plus grants to other charities — ranked above 22% of peers. Its highest-paid positions fell in the $80,000–119,999 range (2 positions in that band). The charity reported 2 permanent full-time positions.
Its filed list of directors and trustees shows 6 names.
In its own words
Ongoing programs include March Break and Summer Theatre Day camps for youth and an adopt a production program. Produced musicals plays and ArtsLocal program Comedy Festival programming and Illuminating Conversation series. Also 'Ms. Main asked for it program' program. Youth Mentorship program. Online classes for children youth and adults. BizWiz Academy App - which features training and tutorials interviews giving tips and tricks as well as in interactive question-and-answer board.
Ongoing-program description from its T3010 filing, verbatim.
The ledger, 2020–2024
| Year | Revenue | Spending | Programs | Fundraising | Gifts out | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1.7M | $1.6M | $1.3M | $42K | — | $496K |
| 2023 | $1.9M | $1.8M | $1.5M | $73K | — | $431K |
| 2022 | $2.1M | $1.9M | $1.5M | — | — | $381K |
| 2021 | $1.5M | $1.5M | $1.2M | — | — | $170K |
| 2020 | $1.2M | $1.2M | $898K | — | — | $115K |
Revenue printed in red where the year ran a deficit. Fiscal years by period end.
Money between charities, 2024
Received $112K from 6 charities:
As reported on the donors’ own T3010 qualified-donee schedules.
What it pays
Its ten highest-paid positions, by band:
- $80,000–119,9992 positions
- Permanent full-time positions2
- Total compensation, all staff$254K
Schedule 3 of its 2024 return. The CRA discloses bands, not names or exact salaries.
Directors & trustees (2024)
Kim Kieller (director); Casey Farley (director); Michael Collins (director - education); Jenivieve De Vries (director); Casey George (director); Samuel Robertson (director).
As listed on its 2024 return.
Check the source
Every figure on this page is from Talk Is Free Theatre Inc.’s own T3010 filings, published by the Canada Revenue Agency. Verify against the CRA’s charities listing (search BN 894267608RR0001), or read how we compute the receipt.