The Travelling Stage

Toni Grates is the Founding Director of The Travelling Stage, a company she launched 24 years ago with a big dream, a hand-made poster, and a laundry basket full of props. Since then, she has dedicated her career to creating and advocating for accessible arts opportunities for young people, blending her passion for creativity with a deep commitment to community connection.

Toni is a multidisciplinary artist whose career includes work for YTV and CityTV, along with numerous credits as an actor, director, and writer on stages throughout North America. In addition to her work with The Travelling Stage, she is a sessional instructor at Brock University in drama and dance with the Faculty of Education.

Toni also leads The Travelling Stage’s Far North Community Engagement Initiative in remote communities of the Northwest Territories. Developed in close collaboration with local consultants, elders, and school superintendents, the initiative focuses on amplifying Northern voices and supporting arts education that reflects and celebrates the stories, traditions, and creativity of the region.

In recognition of her leadership and dedication to the arts, Toni has received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Durham Catholic District School Board and the 2024 Business Achievement Award from the Whitby Chamber of Commerce. She is also a finalist for the Chamber’s 2025 Business Person of the Year Award.

She credits her high school drama teacher, Mr. Jim Finan, with inspiring her to pursue the path she’s on today.

She holds a BA in Theatre from York University, a diploma in Musical Theatre from the Randolph Academy, a postgraduate certificate in Creative Writing from the Humber School of Writers, and a Master of Education with a focus on Arts Education from the University of Toronto.

At the heart of her work is a steadfast belief in the transformative power of arts education and its ability to build connection and belonging. Toni strives to lead with compassion and creativity, supported by an extraordinary office and teaching team equally committed to making a meaningful impact. Above all, she takes immense pride in her role as a mother to her two sons, ages 10 and 15.