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Tag: Revive the Roxy

Old burgundy chairs with wooden arms in the old Roxy Theatre in Coleman.

Looking for a seat to call your own at the Roxy?

The best seat in the house is always one’s own. Those wishing to lay claim to their own spot at Coleman’s Roxy Theatre can do so with a donation. 

Crowsnest Cando recently launched its Roxy seat recognition campaign, which is intended to raise funds for the theatre by giving the general public an opportunity to donate to the revival cause.

Not only does the campaign provide a chance to make a significant contribution to this local project, it allows participants to have their names etched in the history of this iconic theatre.

In exchange for a one-off donation, seat recognition donors can choose between having their own name engraved within the theatre, dedicating it to a current family member or recognizing passed loved ones. 

A $500 contribution claims a seat in rows 11 to 15, $1,000 lands the donor in rows 5 to 10, $1,500 grabs a seat in rows 1 to 4 on the sides, while $2,000 nets a centre seat in rows 1 to 4.

“It’s just a great opportunity to support the Roxy project, so I’d encourage the community as a whole to support this campaign,” says Tim Juhlin, president of Crowsnest Cando.

“Let’s get all those seats sold and then we’ll look at other ways to continue to raise funds for the Roxy!”

 

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Seat recognition donors will have their names placed on an early notification list for events, providing the opportunity to purchase tickets before the general public and reserve the seat they donated for.

Names will be etched on a wall rather than directly on the seats, which could be an option at a later time. 

Money raised by the campaign will go toward interior atmosphere enhancements such as chair, theatre and foyer renewals.

“We have a large number of people that are in support of this that understand how the community will benefit from this theatre in many ways,” says Tim. 

“Lots of local arts groups are showing their full support and donating towards the theatre, which is going to be a performing arts centre, and it’s going to be developed into something pretty fantastic.”

As Crowsnest Cando continues to fundraise for interior renovations and modifications, work on the exterior of the Roxy is expected to begin sometime in July.

Together with the Crowsnest Historical Society, Crowsnest Cando is working to restore the historically and culturally significant Roxy Theatre, long a staple of downtown Coleman.

To donate to the seat recognition campaign, or to learn more about the theatre’s restoration and transformation into a multi-use community performing arts centre, visit the Crowsnest Cando website.

 

Roxy Theatre – an old brick and tin building with a Roxy marquis sign and a sign reading Thank you for supporting the Roxy

Revive the Roxy gets support to purchase Montem building

The Revive the Roxy project has received a tremendous leg up. With the support of Montem Resources and Heritage Crowsnest, the former Montem office building, an adjacent property to the theatre site in Coleman, will be incorporated into the plans and infrastructure for the theatre restoration project.

With the additional space, the Crowsnest Culture and Recreation Society (Crowsnest CanDo) hopes to accommodate certain requirements for the theatre, including additional space for guests, backstage needs and, should there be enough space, food services.

“When Montem approached us asking if we were interested in acquiring the old Montem building, it was a no-brainer on our end,” says Howard Vandenhoef, communications director for Crowsnest CanDo.

The organization has spent roughly two years working vigorously with the community to push forward the Revive the Roxy project. The primary goal is to re-establish and restore the historic Roxy Theatre into a regional performing arts centre for southwestern Alberta.

The Roxy was once a staple of the town of Coleman. Built in 1948, the quonset-style theatre was home to film showings as well as musical performances and special events. 

In 2003, the Roxy closed its doors and the building remained in limbo until Crowsnest CanDo purchased it in 2021 with the intention of creating a performing arts centre.

 

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“It is wonderful that we are able to help out the Revive the Roxy project and see our former office space in downtown Coleman transformed into an important piece of this community project,” Peter Doyle, managing director and CEO of Montem Resources, said in a press release.

The takeover of the Montem building would not have been possible without Heritage Crowsnest, a newly formed organization that aims to preserve the stories and sites that make Crowsnest Pass such a unique, history-rich area. 

The group’s goal is to act as a social enterprise for culture and heritage in Crowsnest Pass, to preserve, restore and share local history.

With the aid of Heritage Crowsnest, it is expected that the addition of the Montem building will save the Revive the Roxy project an estimated $400,000.

“You revive the Roxy and you change Coleman. The impact that it would have on the main street would be extraordinary,” says Chris Matthews, CEO of Heritage Crowsnest.

“Ultimately, Heritage Crowsnest came in and we said we’d purchase the building for the purposes of the Roxy project and secure it for them so that their fundraising efforts don’t get bogged down by the financial strain.”

The addition of the Montem building will significantly help the project along, but there is a lot of work still to be done. The project is currently in the planning and design phase as those working diligently to revive the theatre begin renovating and reshaping the Roxy.

To learn more about Revive the Roxy and how you can help the project, visit www.crowsnestcando.ca.

 

Two men in dark shirts smile and shake hands. To their left is an older man with glasses wearing a tan shirt and dark pants, and dark-haired woman is on their right
A handshake sealed the deal. From left are Crowsnest CanDo chairman Tim Juhlin, Heritage Crowsnest CEO Chris Matthews, Nathan Archer, Montem Resources manager of exploration and field operations, and Karlie Stella, Montem’s manager of administration, human resources and treasury. Photo courtesy of Chris Matthews

 

 

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