Donations

Dear Donor,
The Crowsnest Cando Society has recently negotiated an offer to purchase the Roxy Theater in downtown Coleman, which closes in January of 2021.  This Quonset style Theater is in amazing shape and other than this property there are only two others still operating in Canada as theaters today.
 
Roxy Theatre History
These Quonset style theaters were very popular post WW2 as the military were decommissioning their operations and selling off their surplus.  The Roxy Theater owners started construction in 1948 and opened in May of 1949 after the original opera house in Coleman was destroyed in the great fire of 1948. The Roxy was built in two phases with the front brick building which held the main lobby and the auditorium which is constructed from a Quonset.  Over the next decades patrons enjoyed films and live performances including the CNP Symphony Orchestra and were the hub of social life for decades in Coleman.  In their heyday this type of building dotted North America in the thousands and today there are just a few left.
Our vision is simple
TO REHABILITATE THE HISTORIC ROXY THEATRE AS MULTI-USE COMMUNITY PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE OPERATING AS A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
You may ask why now?
 Currently our communities are in transformation with the potential of industrial and commercial opportunity.   Our tourism market has been increasing which includes retirees and remote workers migrating into our community.  These are all fantastic things. We feel that to continue to grow and retain great people and investment in our community, we need great gathering places. Our growing arts organizations and performers need a facility in which to present their talent. Our community lacks proper performance space.  Youth need great organizations to challenge them and to see their own potential. The restored Roxy has the potential to anchor a burgeoning arts and cultural district within historic downtown Coleman and benefit the accommodation, beverage and food services sector of our economy.
Our Goal
We are seeking your assistance to raise $50,000.00 in Phase 1 to purchase this property.  We wish to transform the Roxy Theater to a regional performing arts building for Southwest Alberta and into BC. 
For more information on how you may donate or support this project http://www.crowsnestcando.ca/the-roxy-project.html
Thanking you in advance for your support to resurrect the Roxy Theatre that will become a cultural hotspot in our community!
NOW IS THE TIME TO “RESSURECT THE ROXY”
Sincerely
 
Donald Budgen
Vice President
Crowsnest Cando

The Crowsnest Pass Herald
November 18th, 2020 ~ Vol. 90 No. 46
Long Live the Roxy
Looking Back
John Kinnear
http://passherald.ca/archives/201118/index3.htm

The Crowsnest Pass Herald
October 28th, 2020 ~ Vol. 90 No. 43
Crowsnest Cando is looking to resurrect the Roxy
David Selles
Pass Herald Reporter
http://passherald.ca/archives/201028/index1.htm

The Crowsnest Pass Herald
October 22th, 2014 ~ Vol. 84 No. 41
Quonset Hut Theaters – Long Live the Roxy
Looking Back
John Kinnear
http://passherald.ca/archives/141022/index5.htm

Crowsnest Pass council hears plans to resurrect the Roxy

SR    By Sean Oliver, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Shootin' the Breeze
Wed., Oct. 28, 2020  timer5 min. read

Crowsnest Pass has always prided itself on its rich history and coal mining tradition. Coincidentally, the first two delegations who presented at the Oct. 20 regular council meeting are both intent on adding to that legacy.

Resurrect the Roxy

Crowsnest Cando announced that a purchasing agreement had recently been reached between the society and the private owners of the Roxy Theatre in Coleman. It is Cando’s intention to restore the theatre to its former glory to act as a centre for the growing performing arts community in Crowsnest Pass.

The theatre, built in 1948, is made of an asymmetrical entranceway and a prefabricated quonset with a large movie theatre screen and stage that sits around 300 people. The theatre has not been occupied since 2003, though the Alberta government is currently reviewing the structure for historical designation.

Only two other theatres of the same style exist in Canada: the Alma Theatre in Wainwright and Blue Ridge at the Roxy in Victoria, B.C.

Cando is currently asking for donations and applying for grants from both provincial and federal governments to reach the project fundraising goal of $150,000. The idea is to have $50,000 raised by the end of 2020 to finalize acquisition of the building and to then secure $100,000 to complete the engineering and restoration studies needed to proceed with the project.

Once completed, the goal is to ensure operations of the theatre maintain it as a community asset.

“The operator could be Cando, it could be leased out to another group to operate,” said Fred Bradley, Cando’s engineering director. “Right now we see it as a Cando project, and I think Cando is quite excited at the office space it could have there, office space for perhaps other community performing groups or culture groups.”

Donations