If a building could have more than one life, The Garry Theatre in Selkirk, Man. would certainly qualify.
The theatre opened on Manitoba Avenue Nov. 29, 1948, showing “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein” and Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rope.”
In January 1954, a fire destroyed the interior and caused the roof to crumble. All was not lost, as the building quickly re-opened to host movie buffs months later, with a new addition … air conditioning.
The Garry Theatre carried on serving popcorn and candy for many years delivering reels of comedy, drama and action flicks. Tales of first dates, nights out with friends and families taking in weekend matinees would be created for decades.
In May 2021, Landmark Cinemas closed the theatre after 73 years, leaving its future in question. The City of Selkirk purchased the building in August 2021, giving it new life.
“We knew immediately letting it slip away was not an option,” says Selkirk Mayor Larry Johannson. “The theatre isn’t just a building – it’s a part of Selkirk’s collective memory. Part of our identity. It has anchored our community for decades.”
Work began immediately. Johannson says the city partnered with Urban Systems Ltd. of Winnipeg to gather public feedback through open houses, surveys and community meetings. That was followed with extensive research about other single-screen theatres in Canada.
“This project has garnered the most unsolicited, positive comments from Selkirk citizens than anything we’ve ever done as a city,” he says.
Reviving The Garry is part of Selkirk’s Downtown Renewal Strategy.
“Businesses open past 5 p.m. are really going to benefit from the Garry,” Johannson says, “and you’re going to see a lot of people just want to be downtown.”
According to Selkirk’s chief administrative officer, Duane Nicol “what we found is not only was the community overwhelmingly in support of bringing The Garry back, an excitement that has not waned to this day, but its future depends on being a community-driven, multi-use cultural venue.
“Movies, of course, will still be a big part of The Garry, but we’re also converting it to a space that can host live music, comedy, community events, youth programming, birthday parties, board meetings and so much more.”
The project represents a major investment for a city of just over 10,000 residents.
“Repairs to the building cost around $1.7 million. The Province of Manitoba is covering $500,000 and fundraising is estimated to bring in another $200,000. We’re also waiting on an outstanding grant application that will hopefully contribute another $150,000 towards the theatre. It’s an investment in cultural infrastructure,” Nicol says.
Johannson says their business plan estimated $200,000 in entertainment spend that’s leaving the city right now.
“What the Garry’s reopening will do is repatriate that money back into Selkirk. Now, Selkirk citizens won’t have to go to Winnipeg to watch a movie. They’ll be able to take that money, they were already planning to spend, and keep it in Selkirk.”
“On top of that, we’re not just looking at the direct financial benefit of The Garry. It’s not just about the movie tickets and popcorn being sold. It’s the indirect spend that’ll be huge. People will come downtown for a movie, then afterwards, they’re going to the coffee shop across the street or they’re stopping for dinner at a nearby restaurant.”
Nicol describes The Garry as “a new theatre in an old shell.” The 250-seat venue includes a fully accessible entryway, a wheelchair lift into the theatre with dedicated wheelchair seating, new flooring and seats, renovated and accessible washrooms, roof repairs, a new fossil-fuel free HVAC and electrical system, stage expansion, new AV system and a new concession area. All of these improvements were made while preserving the art deco style that the theatre is known for.
Fundraising plays a key role. The “Name-a-Seat” program lets donors personalize a seat for $350 (single) or $650 (pair).
“When you name a seat, a personalized plaque will be placed on a theatre seat of your choice (first come, first served), and we’ve found a lot of people want to be a part of that and literally etch their name into The Garry’s comeback story,” says Nicol.
The Rotary Club of Selkirk, whose members were also there when The Garry faced past obstacles, stepped up once again.
“The Rotary Club of Selkirk has had a long and very positive relationship with the City of Selkirk,” says David Thorne, immediate past president. “When we heard the City purchased it to renovate and relaunch the theatre, members of our club reached out to the City to discuss sponsorship and came up with a five-year plan worth $87,500.
“Many of our members grew up in Selkirk and used to attend the Garry Theatre. When it closed down, it was definitely noticeable in our community.”
As for The Garry’s grand re-opening: “That’s the second most asked question in Selkirk today,” says Nicol. “Construction delays have set us back a bit, but we expect to be open for peak summer movie season 2026.”
