YOUR PERSPECTIVE: Preserving local theatres

If you’re from a community with a small, local movie theatre, you know that they are charming hubs of local culture. Whether you lined up for hours to see a brand-new film released, saw a screening of your favourite concert, or attended a community event, you know that these are special venues in our communities. 

When I ran into the owner of the Royal Theatre in Trail B.C. at a local airport last year, she told me how much competing with streaming services, larger venues, and global inflation were affecting her small, rural business, and I knew this was an issue I wanted to advocate for not just for my own community, but for small, independent theatres across the province. 

That’s why I introduced a motion in the legislature calling for more opportunities for small, independent theatres to create revenue by allowing them to opt-in to responsibly serving alcohol at mixed-age showings. 

In B.C., theatres can apply for liquor licenses and serve beer and wine, but only at 19+ showings. Larger, multiscreen theatres can afford to reserve a screen for a 19+ showing, whereas single screen, small, independent theatres don’t have the same luxuries. This would allow smaller, independent theatres to capture some of that revenue. 

In the past few years, we’ve unfortunately lost local theatres to economic pressure. Just over 50 small, independent theatres in B.C. remain that could be at risk of closure due to rising prices, streaming services, and competition. Allowing these theatres to responsibly serve alcohol at mixed‑age showings would give them a meaningful new tool to stay viable, strengthen their programming, and keep their doors open. 

We’ve already been hearing from local theatre owners that they support this motion – some cited that it would help them remain competitive, and that it could help boost their sales. 

If the government were to make these changes, like all establishments that are licensed in B.C., local theatres would need to follow strict guidelines. Additionally, from my discussions with local theatre owners, they are not trying to become a pub, or a bar, or a dance venue, they just want adults to be able to responsibly enjoy an alcoholic beverage while taking in a film. 

One theatre owner in Vernon said that they have never had issues with alcohol consumption at their 19+ events, especially since their concession closes once a movie lets in, or after intermission.  

As the Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development, the core of this motion is about rural economic opportunities. Small businesses are at the heart of our communities, and local theatres are spaces where memories are made for entire families.