Showtime in Selkirk City buys, renos shuttered historic movie theatre By: Conrad Sweatman Posted: 4:32 PM CDT Tuesday, Apr. 8, 2025

A shuttered small-town theatre bought back by the community to become a hub for local culture, high school performances and Hollywood favourites: the story has the inspirational feel of movies such as It’s a Wonderful Life and The Majestic, but it’s currently unfolding in Selkirk.

The nearly 100-year-old Garry Theatre had been struggling for years with crumbling infrastructure and declining audiences. The pandemic’s arrival sounded the death knell for the Landmark Cinemas-owned theatre.

But instead of allowing the historic building to be torn down or repurposed beyond recognition, the City of Selkirk stepped in with $350,000 and a new community mandate.

“I don’t recall hearing from anyone that they thought buying the theatre was a bad idea,” community planner Jeff Palmer was quoted as saying on My Selkirk’s blog.

“There was very strong support for purchasing the theatre, regardless of what it becomes … It was an ambitious move and so we applaud the city for taking that initiative.”

The city partnered with Urban Systems in 2022 to develop a feasibility study and a business plan for the Manitoba Avenue property, which originally opened in 1948. The conclusion: if the Garry was to thrive again, it needed a new model, one focused on community value rather than private profit.

“It failed under an extractive business model,” City of Selkirk chief administrative officer Duane Nicol told the Free Press.

“What the business plan told us was we needed a more regenerative model prioritizing local economic growth.”

“It was an ambitious move and so we applaud the city for taking that initiative.”–Jeff Palmer

Practically speaking, that means the 260-seat single screen — which will be run as a non-profit charity — will be more than just a place to see the new Marvel movie, though it will also be that.

Hollywood fare will be a staple — reflecting a desire expressed by residents during consultations — but the venue will also likely host live shows and other community events, such as themed movie nights, film festivals and student film showcases.

Renovations will include roof repairs, HVAC and electrical system replacements, new flooring and seating, upgraded accessible washrooms, an accessible entryway, a wheelchair lift, designated wheelchair seating and esthetic improvements.

The theatre’s renewal dovetails with Selkirk’s broader downtown revitalization, with the city having invested tens of millions into pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, green spaces and public art over the past decade.

Nicol says the Garry is the “crown jewel” in that work — a cornerstone of the city’s efforts to draw people downtown, both day and night. Their business plan forecasts that reopening the theatre could help keep hundreds of thousands of dollars circulating locally each year.

“This is about way more than movies. It’s a community development project.”–Duane Nichol

From this point of view, it’s not just about the revenue the theatre brings in directly.

“There’s finances and then there’s economics. People will go out for dinner before a show, grab a coffee afterward. This is about way more than movies. It’s a community development project,” says Nicol.

Nonetheless, to keep costs low, a big component of day-to-day staffing is expected to come from local volunteers. While this may sound optimistic, more than 400 Selkirk residents said they were eager to volunteer — especially notable in a city of just over 10,000 people.

It’s a reassuring start, says Nicol.

“Even if only a percentage of those folks follow through on their intent, that will be a great foundation.”

Construction is currently underway with hopes the theatre will open in the fall.

conrad.sweatman@winnipegfreepress.mb.ca