Former WCT artistic director James MacDonald. (Image Credit: CFJC Today/File photo)

By Aaron Schulze

James MacDonald

Former WCT artistic director suing Kamloops theatre company for wrongful termination

Mar 2, 2026 | 11:13 AM

KAMLOOPS — The former artistic director of Western Canada Theatre (WCT) is claiming he was wrongfully dismissed by the Kamloops-based professional theatre company. 

In a notice of civil claim filed in B.C. Supreme Court on Feb. 18, 2026, James MacDonald alleges that WCT terminated his employment on Jan. 6, 2025 on a without cause basis without reasonable or any notice.

“The dismissal by the defendant without just cause and without notice constituted an arbitrary and wilful breach of the plaintiff’s contract of employment with the defendant and a wrongful dismissal of the plaintiff,” the lawsuit said.

In January 2025, WCT announced that MacDonald had departed the company. A reason for the departure and a quote from MacDonald were not provided in a news release. 

The lawsuit alleges that WCT terminated MacDonald based on allegations of cause which the company knew or ought to have known were false and/or unwarranted. It also alleges that WCT disregarded explanations and information that MacDonald provided in response to the allegations.

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The lawsuit also alleges that WCT misrepresented its reasons for terminating MacDonald, which were “largely motivated by personal antagonism against [MacDonald] by the President of [WCT’s] Board of Directors.” While not named in the lawsuit, the WCT’s president of WCT’s board of directors at the time was Chrystie Stewart, who remains in the position. 

“…in its termination letter of January 6, 2025, [WCT] offered [MacDonald] the ‘opportunity to resign’ on conditions that he provide a full and final release of all claims in favour of the defendant and that he enter into non-disclosure and non-disparagement agreements vis-a-vis [WCT] and its directors, staff or contractors, in exchange for which [WCT] would ‘make all reasonable attempts to negotiate an affordable settlement with you,’” the lawsuit said.

Prior to his termination, MacDonald claims that he led WCT to six straight years of annual budget surpluses between 2016 and 2021, following six years of deficits between 2010 and 2016, prior to his hiring. The lawsuit also claims that MacDonald increased WCT’s annual budget from $2.1 million to $3.2 million during his tenure, and that annual ticket sales increased from $653,000 to $1.02 million.

“[It included] record box office sales in the final two years of programming in which [MacDonald] was involved (2023-24 and 2024-25),” the lawsuit said.

According to the lawsuit, WCT was obligated to pay MacDonald termination pay equal to a month’s salary per year of service, partial or complete, per terms of an agreement in 2021. It also claims WCT allegedly refused to pay MacDonald the $67,500 owed to him, based on his eight years and four months of service. 

At the time of his dismissal, MacDonald was being paid an annual salary of $90,000 per year. The lawsuit also claims that MacDonald has been unsuccessful in securing alternate employment since his termination.

MacDonald is seeking general damages for breach of contract, along with aggravated, punitive and special damages and costs. He’s also seeking further relief as B.C. Supreme Court may deem just. 

Both WCT and MacDonald’s counsel, Richmond-based law firm Campbell Froh May & Rice, declined to comment to CFJC Today regarding the lawsuit. 

MacDonald’s allegations have not been tested or proven in court.