In 1984, inspired by performances at the Vancouver Children’s Festival, a small non-profit circus school was born in a South Vancouver gym. This school, originally named the Vancouver Children’s Circus Society, quickly found its place in the city’s growing circus community and flourished.
As demand grew, so did we! In 2003, we moved to the PNE Garden Auditorium at HastingsPark to accommodate our expanding programs. Then, in 2008, we rebranded as CircusWest Performing Arts Society to reflect our broader vision of circus training, performance, and community engagement.
Today, we continue to grow—offering new classes, expanding outreach, and constantly evolving our teaching methods to better support our students. But our story is far from over. We invite you to be part of our next chapter!
Our mission is to develop skills, build confidence, and inspire passion through circus training and performance.
Our vision is to be Western Canada’s leading centre for teaching, performing, and promoting circus as a unique and dynamic art form.
As a registered non-profit charity, CircusWest is guided by a dedicated volunteer Board of Directors, working alongside senior management to shape the strategic direction of the organization.
Now in our 41st year, we remain committed to fostering creativity, inclusivity, and excellence in circus arts. Join us on this incredible journey!
Please visit Our Society page for more information on our society, including our board of directors, AGM minutes and contact details.
CircusWest acknowledges with gratitude that we train, work, and perform on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
Our home inside the Garden Auditorium - a space with a layered and evolving history sits within Hastings Park, a site of deep cultural importance to many communities.
We recognize that while we have the privilege to move, create, and share our art here, many before us have not been afforded the same freedom.
With respect and humility, we honour the land, its history, and the Indigenous peoples who have stewarded it for generations.
Circus West Performing Arts Society
2901 East Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC V5K 5J1
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We are located in the Garden Auditorium, between the Forum and the PNE Admin Building.
If you are driving, please enter the PNE grounds through Gate 2 on Renfrew St. Additional entrances may be made available depending on PNE events.
The closest foot path entrance is located at the corner of Hastings and Renfew St. Please check ahead to make sure you can enter as expected!
Please note: Parking at the PNE grounds is currently limited due to FIFA.
Our regular parking arrangements (listed below) will return after July 26, 2026.
Free parking is usually available on the PNE grounds by using the CircusWest QR code, located at our front desk.
Please note, parking fills up quickly during PNE events.
Yes. CircusWest observes statutory holidays as well as official holidays. These dates are posted in our front entrance as a reminder to all members.
If you are unsure, please call ahead to make sure we will be running classes as expected!
(604) 252-3679
CircusWest closely follows the local school board calendar. We close during the School Winter Break (VSB calendar), and Spring Break.
Additionally, we do not run programming during The PNE Fair (The PNE Fair runs 15 days. These dates generally begin mid-to-late August until Labour Day weekend)
Yes! We offer a one time Skills Assessment for those who want to try a class before enrolling. Please note, assessments are only available for classes that are not fully booked.
The cost for a Skills Assessments is $25.00
Skills Assessments can be booked by emailing info@circuswest.com
CircusWest is a non-profit organization dedicated
to delivering memorable experiences to students
and circus lovers of all ages.
The staff and students of CircusWest work and play on the unceded, ancestral lands of the Coast Salish peoples, including the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, Sto:lo, Stz'uminus, Qayqayt and Squamish Nations. We are grateful for this land and the ongoing stewardship of it by these nations.
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