Meet the Board: Tim Porter, Tweed & Co. Theatre

A professional actor and arts and culture advocate, Tim Porter has spent his life building theatre, community, and tourism in Hastings County. 

Tim’s interest on the potential of tourism was piqued early, when he worked behind the scenes and on stage at the Stirling Festival Theatre when he was sixteen. It was there he first saw how visitors could contribute to the success of a community, as bus tours rolled in for summer shows, streets got busier, and the ripple effect was unmistakable. 

“Seeing that impact on the local community and seeing hundreds of people actively engaging in that community stayed with me,” Tim said. 

It also showed him what wasn’t happening back in Tweed and planted the idea that his own community could one day experience the same kind of momentum.

In his early years, Tim worked with Hastings County on tourism and small business retention projects, gaining an early understanding of the region’s strengths and its gaps. That mix of creative work and community involvement eventually led him to form Tweed & Company Theatre in 2009.

Tim understands that while theatre is the medium, tourism is the engine behind the impact on the community.

“It’s very important to us to bring high quality professional theatre productions that also heavily incorporate local talent and with a community based background to our underserved community regions,” Tim said.

For Tim, professional productions are not just about entertainment. They are anchors that support local businesses, strengthen community identity, and give both residents and visitors reasons to stay longer and return often.

That same goal drives his interest in touring. Demand for Tweed & Company’s work has grown, especially after Million Dollar Quartet. 

“Earlier this year 2025, we put out feelers and got a great response back. We picked five theatres so that is very exciting,” Tim said. 

Touring gives communities access to shows they cannot produce themselves. Rising expenses and insurance costs have made large scale theatre out of reach for many towns, even those with impressive venues. Tim sees touring as a real solution that helps fill a widening gap in the tourism landscape, both in Ontario and across North America.

His ongoing relationship with OHTO has played a big role in the company’s success. 

“We’ve been engaged with OHTO many times in the past, been lucky enough to benefit from funding and marketing support,” Tim said.

OHTO’s programs also connected him with Festivals and Events Ontario, and Tweed & Company is now celebrating a fourth consecutive year as one of the Top 100 Festivals and Events in Ontario.

Stepping onto the OHTO board felt like the right moment to give back. Tim saw that Hastings County and the arts and culture sector needed stronger representation. 

“We see the benefits OHTO offers and there was a lack of representation from Hastings County and the arts and culture sector,” Tim said.

With recent staffing growth at Tweed & Company, he can now look beyond day to day operations and support regional efforts in a more meaningful way.

Much of his motivation comes from the people behind OHTO. “I think it’s incredible Nicole has been with OHTO so long and staff is what drew me to join the OHTO board. It’s a phenomenal team and I’m excited to support them and be part of an organization that I really believe in largely because of the people behind it.” 

As a board member, Tim hopes to help strengthen the southern part of the region and amplify the role of arts and culture in the visitor experience. He believes Ontario’s Highlands stands out because it pairs natural beauty with a growing creative sector, and that both deserve equal recognition. 

His focus will be on supporting momentum, creating opportunities for shared growth, and ensuring the region continues to offer experiences that reflect the diversity and character of the people who live here.

Tim’s passion for tourism has always been tied to a simple idea: when communities thrive, people thrive. With deep local roots and a clear understanding of how cultural experiences drive regional growth, he brings insight, energy, and a long standing commitment to the OHTO board.