Victoria Jazz Society

What Victoria Jazz Society does

Victoria Jazz Society is a federally registered charity and not-for-profit arts organization founded in 1981 in Victoria, British Columbia, that produces live jazz, blues, funk, world music, and associated genre programming for the Greater Victoria and Vancouver Island communities. Its core products are two major annual summer festivals — TD Victoria International JazzFest (a 10-day event attracting 40,000+ attendees) and Harbour Blues 'n Roots Festival (3 days, 20,000+ attendees, placed on hiatus in 2026 due to sponsorship losses and rising costs) — supplemented by a year-round Fall/Winter/Spring Presentation Series running September through May at venues such as the Royal Theatre, Encore Victoria, and Studio 919. The organization also operates educational outreach programs including free JazzFest workshops/clinics, the Jazz In The Schools program (since 2009), and the Lou Williamson Jazz Award, a $2,000 student scholarship.

The society monetizes through a hybrid non-profit revenue model combining ticketed event sales (Marquee Series $45-$115, Presentation Series $35-$48, multi-show packages up to 40% off), four membership tiers ($10-$50/year) granting presale access and voting rights, tax-deductible charitable donations, corporate sponsorships (TD Bank as title sponsor alongside CFAX, CTV, Times Colonist), and multi-tier government grants from Canadian Heritage, BC Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, CRD, and municipal partners. A multi-year $330,000 Government of Canada investment announced in December 2025 covers 2026-2029 programming.

Operationally, VJS is led by Executive/Artistic Director Darryl Mar with a small administrative staff and a volunteer-supported Board of Directors led by President Jack Petrie. Distribution runs through the VJS website (jazzvictoria.ca), the Royal & McPherson Theatres Society box office, the VJS physical box office at 975A Alston St., and free outdoor performances at Cameron Bandshell and Bullen Park. The underlying technology footprint is limited to commodity SaaS — Stripe for payments, Mailchimp for newsletters, Google Analytics for web insight — with no proprietary software or AI/ML components; value creation rests on artist curation, community engagement, and four decades of brand trust.

Name

Victoria Jazz Society

Legal name

Victoria Jazz Society

Website

https://jazzvictoria.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Victoria Jazz Society is a non-profit arts organization founded in 1981 that produces the annual TD Victoria International JazzFest and year-round live jazz, blues, and world music programming for the Greater Victoria and Vancouver Island communities in British Columbia, Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Music Events and Festival Production

NAICS

Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Concerts & Music Festivals (THAJAFAA), Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG)

Keywords

• Live jazz festivals
• Blues music events
• Music concert programming
• Arts education workshops
• Community music presentations

Headquarters

HQ city

Victoria

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Multi-year government grants including $330,000 from the Government of Canada for programming support from 2026 to 2029. Additional support from Canadian Heritage, BC Arts Council, and local government bodies.
2. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from ticket sales for festival events and concert presentations. Tickets sold through website, phone, in-person box office, and Royal & McPherson Theatres Society.
3. Memberships: Annual memberships sold at various tiers (Student $10, Senior $20, Individual $35, Couple/Family $50) providing ticket presale access, discounts, and voting rights.
4. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations. Registered charity (#11926 1568 RR0001). Provincial employees can donate through PECSF program.
5. Corporate Sponsorships: Partnerships with corporate sponsors (TD, CFAX, CTV, Times Colonist, etc.) providing financial support in exchange for brand visibility and promotional benefits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Victoria Jazz Society is a not-for-profit arts organization that produces and presents live jazz, blues, and world music performances to the Greater Victoria community. Its core products are two major annual multi-day summer festivals (TD Victoria International JazzFest and Harbour Blues 'n Roots Festival) and a year-round Fall/Winter/Spring Presentation Series of concerts. The society also delivers educational outreach through festival workshops, Jazz In The Schools programs, and the Lou Williamson Jazz Award scholarship for music students.

Product overview

Victoria Jazz Society operates as a professional arts organization producing two major multi-day music festivals each summer (TD Victoria International JazzFest and Harbour Blues 'n Roots Festival), supplemented by a Fall/Winter/Spring Presentation Series running September to May. The organization also offers educational programming including workshops/clinics during festivals and the year-round Jazz In The Schools program, plus the Lou Williamson Jazz Award scholarship. VJS offers membership tiers and accepts charitable donations to support programming. The society serves as a registered charity and not-for-profit organization dedicated to presenting jazz, blues, world music, and associated genres to the Greater Victoria community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TD Victoria International JazzFest: The longest-running professional music festival on Vancouver Island, celebrating 10 hot days and nights of the coolest music in town. Features jazz, blues, funk, world music, and more.
• Harbour Blues 'n Roots Festival
• Fall/Winter/Spring Presentation Series
• Lou Williamson Jazz Award

Products and services

• TD Victoria International JazzFest Annual 10-day summer jazz festival held in June (2026 dates June 19-28), attracting over 40,000 attendees. Features ticketed and free outdoor performances across multiple venues including the TD Main Stage at Bullen Park, Royal Theatre, and various club venues. Headline artists for 2026 include Pink Martini, Miles Electric Band, Béla Fleck/Edmar Castañeda/Antonio Sánchez Trio (BEATrio), and Kokoroko.
• Harbour Blues 'n Roots Festival Annual end-of-summer celebration of blues, roots, soul, and R&B music held at Ship Point in Victoria's inner harbour. Features outdoor performances including a large dance floor and beverage garden, enjoyed by over 20,000 people each year. Festival announced on hiatus for 2026 with planned return in 2027.
• Fall/Winter/Spring Presentation Series Year-round concert series running from September to May featuring local, national, and international jazz artists at various venues around Greater Victoria, including ticketed and free performances.
• Funk n' Soul in the Township Series Three-night outdoor concert series at Bullen Park in Esquimalt (June 26-28) featuring funk, soul, R&B, and groove artists including SNACKTIME, GeminiCrab, SHEBAD, WESLI, Etran de L'Aïr, and The Rumble. Individual nights $42, 3-Day Weekend Pass $99.
• Lou Williamson Jazz Award $2,000 cash award administered by Victoria Jazz Society to encourage a talented high school student to continue music studies in jazz. Open to students from Greater Victoria, Gulf Islands, South and Central Vancouver Island.
• VJS Membership Program Annual membership program offering ticket presales, discounts on select performances, and voting rights at VJS Annual General Meeting. Tiers include Student ($10), Senior $20, Individual $35, and Couple/Family $50.
• Charitable Donations Program Charitable donation program supporting VJS festivals, concerts, and outreach programs. Victoria Jazz Society is a federally registered charity (registration number 11926 1568 RR0001) and issues tax receipts for donations of $5 or more. Provincial employees can donate through PECSF program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40,000+ annual attendees at TD Victoria International JazzFest
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TD (Title Sponsor)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor of TD Victoria International JazzFest. TD is a major Canadian bank with significant music sponsorship programs through TD Music. Provides substantial funding and brand visibility for the flagship festival.
• CFAXminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting media sponsor for TD Victoria International JazzFest. Local radio station providing promotional support.
• CTV Vancouver IslandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting media sponsor for TD Victoria International JazzFest. Television station providing promotional support.
• Times ColonistminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting media sponsor for TD Victoria International JazzFest. Local newspaper providing promotional coverage.
• Royal and McPherson Theatres Society (RMTS)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for ticket distribution and venue hosting. RMTS sells tickets through their box office and hosts Festival Marquee Series shows and year-round presentations at Royal Theatre and other RMTS venues.
• Jazz Festivals CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization connecting jazz festivals across Canada for shared resources and advocacy.
• Hotel Grand PacificminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue sponsor for Fathom Lounge performances. Provides venue space for minimum charge shows during JazzFest and year-round presentations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Ottawa Bluesfest: Major Canadian multi-genre music festival (blues, rock, jazz) operated by a non-profit, drawing tens of thousands of attendees. Comparable in multi-day festival production, sponsorship dependency, and post-COVID cost challenges similar to Harbour Blues.
• Calgary International Jazz Festival: Annual non-profit jazz festival produced by JazzYYC (formerly Calgary Jazz Music Society) with year-round concert series. Directly parallels VJS's combination of multi-day summer festival + Fall/Winter/Spring series model.
• Beaches International Jazz Festival: Toronto-based community jazz festival emphasizing free outdoor performances and local artist showcases, operated as a non-profit. Comparable in reliance on sponsors, free programming, and regional draw profile similar to VJS's Beacon Hill / Bullen Park shows.
• Coastal Jazz & Blues Society (Vancouver International Jazz Festival): BC-based non-profit society producing Vancouver International Jazz Festival plus year-round concerts spanning jazz and blues. Closest geographic peer with same dual jazz/blues mandate, non-profit structure, and community education programming.
• Festival International de Jazz de Montréal: The world's largest jazz festival, produced by a non-profit with year-round presentation series, indoor/outdoor programming, and educational outreach. Operates at a vastly larger scale but mirrors VJS's producer-presenter structure across jazz and associated genres.
• Halifax Jazz Festival: Atlantic Canada's signature jazz festival, run by the Halifax Jazz Festival non-profit with ticketed indoor and free outdoor performances and educational outreach. Mirrors VJS in scale (~tens of thousands of attendees), non-profit model, and presenter-of-talent mission.
• TD Toronto Jazz Festival: Toronto's flagship annual jazz festival operated by a non-profit with a TD Bank title sponsorship and similar model of marquee concerts, free outdoor performances, and educational programming. Directly comparable in mission, sponsor structure, and GTM to Victoria Jazz Society.
• Jazz Winnipeg (Winnipeg International Jazz Festival): Manitoba's primary jazz festival run by a non-profit, combining a winter festival (Montreal/Chicago-style) with summer programming. Comparable community-scale non-profit festival with educational outreach similar to VJS's Jazz In The Schools.
• Stratford Summer Music: Ontario-based non-profit summer music festival featuring jazz, blues, world and folk artists in ticketed and free outdoor settings. Comparable in festival curation across genres, free outdoor programming strategy, and Canadian non-profit governance.

Others

• Royal & McPherson Theatres Society: Channel partner for Victoria Jazz Society - operates Royal Theatre and McPherson Playhouse where VJS hosts its Marquee Series. Comparable non-profit governance, ticketing infrastructure, and community-presenter mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/VicJazzSociety
• Instagraminstagram.com/vicjazzsociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/victoria-jazz-society

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Victoria Jazz Society