For decades, the Garry Theatre was Selkirk’s entertainment capital, the place where family and friends went for a good movie and a good time.
That key part of Selkirk’s history is about to be revived.
Over the past year, the city has taken important steps toward revitalizing the Garry, with a clear focus on community engagement, thoughtful planning, and creating a sustainable, vibrant cultural hub for future generations.
“The Garry Theatre is part of Selkirk’s history and the fabric of our community. It has been an important part of our cultural infrastructure,” said Duane Nicol, the city’s Chief Administrative Officer.
“It was important for the city to purchase and preserve the Garry Theatre, not only because it holds a special place in the hearts of multiple generations of Selkirk residents, but also to ensure its reopening is handled responsibly in a way that ensures its future.”
Where We’ve Been: Understanding the Need
The journey to reopening the Garry Theatre began with a deep dive into understanding the current state of the theatre. The city purchased the Garry in 2021 while the world was still dealing with the pandemic. The city’s preliminary assessment of the building found that the building was in a poor state of repair and would need some work before it could be reopened to the public.
The city later conducted a comprehensive building assessment to determine the theatre’s condition and the work needed for its revitalization.
“The Garry Theatre is part of Selkirk’s history and the fabric of our community.”
Duane Nicol, Chief Administrative Officer
“It’s an old building, and it had old building problems,” Nicol said.
“It was out of date, not accessible, and it had failing mechanical systems. To make the theatre’s long-term sustainability feasible, the city had to invest in some building upgrades.”
In 2022, the City engaged Urban Systems, a consulting firm, to undertake a feasibility assessment and a business plan, to determine if reopening the Garry was a viable community investment. To support this work, extensive community consultation — such as surveys, public meetings, and one-on-one discussions — followed, to ensure everyone had a voice in the future of the Garry.
What the city heard loud and clear was that the community wants the Garry to return to its roots as a movie theatre, while also supporting other cultural, social, and private events.
What’s Been Done: A Vision for the Future
Urban Systems found that reopening the Garry Theatre was possible; however, its viability will depend on community support.
“The Garry Theatre was closed because it was no longer viable as a private business. It’s an old building, with a single screen, lacking the bells and whistles of the more modern theatres. It failed as a business, and so we know that if it’s going to be successful, it needs to operate differently and we know it needs community support,” said Nicol.
The plan confirms that reopening the Garry Theatre as a theatre primarily for films can be successful with start-up resources coming from the city, and if it’s successful, can be feasible with limited on-going support from the city.
“The Garry Theatre has been a cornerstone of our community’s identity for decades. Bringing it back to life as mainly a movie theatre fills a cultural gap in our community,” said Brady Clark, the city’s Director of Culture, Recreation, and Green Transportation.
The plan also highlights the potential for additional opportunities for use of the theatre, including private rentals for events like weddings, conferences, birthdays and community gatherings.
“While the theatre will primarily show movies, the Garry is about more than just films. It’s going to be a hub for cultural and social activities — a place to bring the community together,” said Clark.
The plan includes the necessary upgrades for the building and operational strategies to help the theatre get off the ground and thrive for years to come.
“The Garry is about more than just films. It’s going to be a hub for cultural and social activities — a place to bring the community together.”
Brady Clark, Director of Culture, Recreation & Green Transportation
In the new year, the Garry will undergo a series of significant accessibility upgrades and renovations. Improvements will include an accessible entryway, a wheelchair lift for theatre access, dedicated wheelchair seating, renovated accessible washrooms, new flooring and seating, roof repairs, and new HVAC and electrical systems.
What’s Next: Community-Led Leadership
As the revitalization of the building is completed, the next steps in the Garry’s journey will be the forming of a board of directors and hiring a theatre manager, as the Garry will operate as an independent, community-led, non-profit organization.
“The success of the Garry is dependent on the establishment of a community-led organization, similar to the very successful Gwen Fox Art Gallery, the Marine Museum and Holiday Alley, which just wrapped up its latest successful celebration,” Nicol said.
“Allowing the Garry to be community-led will help ensure that it meets the needs of the community who will have creative licence over its programming. The Garry failed as a private business, so a different operating model was necessary. To be viable, the theatre needs a paying audience, it needs deep community support. The best way to ensure that, is to ensure it’s nimble, flexible, and responsive to the community’s interests.”
The board of directors and theatre manager will be responsible for overseeing the theatre’s operations, running programming, and ensuring that it remains a community-oriented space.
By being led by people who care deeply about the theatre and its role in Selkirk, this non-profit will have the ability to respond to the needs of Selkirk residents and keep the theatre aligned with the community’s collective vision.
“We’re excited for what lies ahead. The community has spoken, and the future of the Garry Theatre is one of cultural vibrancy and inclusivity,” Nicol said.
“The community is invited to continue to be a part of the Garry’s journey, whether that’s through attending events at the theatre, volunteering, or supporting the new non-profit organization that will bring the Garry Theatre to life once again.”
The city’s goal is to work with the community to bring new energy and purpose to the Garry Theatre. Stay tuned for more updates.
For more information and to get involved, visit GarryTheatre.ca.
