Blairmore Lions donate to Roxy

Blairmore Lions donate to Roxy
Nicholas Allen
Pass Herald Reporter
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The Blairmore Lions have given a large donation to help “Revive the Roxy” to glory. Members of the Crowsnest Cando Society and the Blairmore Lions gathered to celebrate a large donation to the Roxy Theatre on November 18.  
The two groups got together for the exchange of a cheque representing a $25,000 donation. The money will go towards helping with repairs on the Roxy Theatre. Charles Clarke, President of the Blairmore Lions, said a couple of Cando members approached them at a meeting to request a donation for their cause.  
“Our committee met, and our group decided on the amount that we thought was feasible to donate to this size of operation,” explained Clarke.  
Blairmore Lions member Daryl Ferguson said a lot of the money for the donation comes from the bingo nights they host. Ferguson said the Lions work on making sure the money goes back into the community.
“We get donations ‘in kind’ and then we recycle that back to the community,” added Clarke.
They said they recognized the potential of the Roxy Theatre to be fixed up before it breaks down even more.
"It's been sitting here empty for so long and it is a natural heritage site that should be brought back to life again and not just left,” said Clarke, “The longer it stays empty, the longer it just dwindles down.”
This year they have several community programs and projects they have donated to, with donations totaling over $70,000 in 2022 alone. This includes getting the train running at the park in Blairmore. Aside from bringing the train back, they have helped with donations to numerous other initiatives throughout the community.  
Clarke said they are always looking for new members to join them in their volunteer efforts. The Blairmore Lions currently have around 50 members that help with various activities and projects around the Crowsnest Pass.  
“Nobody has to do anything they don't want to do, we are all volunteers,” said Clarke.
They meet every first and third Monday of the month at the Lions Hall in Blairmore on 20 Avenue to discuss all the different programs and events where they can help the community.
Clarke said those interested in joining are encouraged to attend any of the club’s meetings. 

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 revive the Roxy Theatre that will become a cultural hotspot in our community!
NOW IS THE TIME TO “REVIVE THE ROXY”
Sincerely
 
Donald Budgen
Vice President
Crowsnest Cando

The Lethbridge  Herald
January 28th, 2021
Roxy Theatre fundraising campaign in final stretch
By LETHBRIDGE HERALD on January 19, 2021.
https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/lethbridge-news/2021/01/19/roxy-theatre-fundraising-campaign-in-final-stretch/?fbclid=IwAR3PCfEvrZm2qE3TzZI-J-jwlGCzl3oC9BLuO4Cw0vbvxiFsn4UbM1s77k8

The Lethbridge  Herald
February 10th, 2021
Roxy Theatre campaign a real crowd-pleaser
By Dale Woodard on February 10, 2021.
https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/lethbridge-news/2021/02/10/roxy-theatre-campaign-a-real-crowd-pleaser/

Medicine Hat News
February 10th, 2021
Roxy Theatre campaign a real crowd-pleaser
By Dale Woodard on February 10, 2021.
https://medicinehatnews.com/news/southern-alberta-news/2021/02/10/roxy-theatre-campaign-a-real-crowd-pleaser/

Toronto Star
October 28, 2020
Crowsnest Pass council hears plans to resurrect the Roxy
By Sean Oliver, Local Journalism Initiative ReporterShootin' the BreezeWed., Oct. 28, 2020.
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2020/10/28/crowsnest-pass-council-hears-plans-to-resurrect-the-roxy.html

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