As we head into the holiday season, we caught up with some of our Bard family to learn what they’ll be up to during our office closure. Plus, hear from Founding Artistic Director Christopher Gaze, who will be sending the year off with a special holiday message!

It has been a rewarding yet intense year. I am going to recharge, watch the Yule Log channel, and eat treats. Happy holidays! – Emma, Director of Marketing and Communications

“This year will be my first holiday in Vancouver without going back home, and I do look forward to not being in a crowded airport! My newlywed husband and our child Carrie are headed to the island for a few days to celebrate Christmas, before rushing back home to our other two purr-y daughters, Leia and Tyra, to cuddle up on the couch and eat warm food, drink nice wine, watch movies and shows, and play video games next to our brightly lit fake Christmas tree. And if we keep forgetting to open our Advent calendar, we’ll have many chocolate delights to indulge in!” – Max, Marketing Manager

“This holiday break I’m using some stockpiled holiday time and jetting off to Spain to visit my family! Activities will include catching up on sleep, catching some football (soccer) matches, digging into my daunting to-read list, and eating so much paella. My dad’s gotten back into cycling in retirement so perhaps I’ll return in January freshly motivated to adhere to my fitness routine – no promises though!” – Taylor, Communications Manager

“I will be spending the holidays with my partner and extended family in Honduras – specifically Roatán! I’m very excited to be reading on the beach, swimming with tropical fish, and spending as much time in the sun as possible. I’m looking forward to the quality time that I’ll get to spend with my family, as this is the first Christmas in several years that all the Dufours will be together. Happy holidays!” – Sadie, Volunteer Coordinator

“Over the holidays, I will be spending my last Christmas at home with my family before leaping into the next chapter of life: marriage! We love to watch Christmas with the Kranks each year, gather around the tree on the morning of December 25, and recuperate through the week after from all the excitement of the season.” – Taylar, Individual Giving Manager

“I’ll be spending the holidays conjuring some magic and creating Christmas traditions for my little kids! When I’m not busy playing Santa’s Elf, you can find me by my tree, nog in hand, warmed stollen on a plate, and cuddling my cat Nelly (who resembles a fattened holiday goose). I’ll cap off the break with a big birthday, celebrated with old friends and new.” – Diane, Director of Development

“I’ll be visiting family in Whitehorse, Yukon over the holidays. My parents live in a rural area south-of-town with chickens, a wood stove, and two big, beautiful dogs. The Yukon is a special place; over winter solstice, there’s only about 5 hours of daylight. Great for catching up on sleep. Other than hibernating, we’ll also be skiing, fatbiking, and getting lots of nature time.” – Santana, Education Coordinator

“I am looking forward to spending time with my family over the holidays – cooking and baking up a storm! It will be great to have my brother, sister-in-law, and father (all from Kamloops) and my mother and stepfather (from Qualicum) join Jason, Juliana, and me for Christmas, and then we’ll head over to Vancouver Island for more family visits.” – Claire Sakaki, Executive Director 

“December is always busy with Bard work plus all the VSO Christmas concerts that I host. Then on Christmas day, Jennifer and I are having our whole family plus a few more friends for dinner – so it looks like about twenty-three people plus three dogs will be part of the festivities. Mad but wonderful! On December 29, we are heading off to Washington D.C. to see Bard’s As You Like It at the Shakespeare Theatre Company there. We are seeing the show on December 31, and we thought it would be the closing performance, but due to its great success it’s been extended into 2024! No matter – it will be wonderful to spend New Year’s Eve with so many theatre chums.” – Christopher Gaze, Founding Artistic Director 

For a special holiday message from Christopher, click the video below:

Happy holidays from all of us at Bard on the Beach! Whether you’re at home or abroad, we hope you have the chance to spend your holidays in a way that brings you joy.

Please note that our offices will be closed from December 25 to January 1 inclusive and will reopen on January 2, 2024.