It's been nearly a month after a fire damaged a business next to a historic Vernon theatre yet the business remains closed. The theatre was damaged Feb. 10, 2022, after a fire at a neighbouring business.
Image Credit: Ben Bulmer
March 07, 2022 - 6:00 PM
It's been nearly a month after a fire damaged a business next to a historic Vernon theatre yet the business remains closed.
The historic Vernon Towne Theatre was damaged Feb. 10 after a fire at a neighbouring business.
The Okanagan Screen Arts Society had put thousands of dollars into renovating the building this past summer, said Scott John, society board member.
READ MORE: Firefighters douse small fire next door to Vernon Towne Theatre
The theatre has a long history in the community. It originally opened as a dance hall in 1929 and became one of the most advanced theatres in Western Canada when it became a cinema in 1939, he said.
“Over the decades it’s been home to many memories for area residents,” he said.
The Okanagan Screen Arts Society, a volunteer organization, took over ownership of the theatre a few years ago after its former owner retired during the pandemic. Renovations to restore the old theatre back to its art-deco days were completed this past summer.
“Most of these Main street, single-screen theatres have all closed down to be redeveloped so we didn’t want to see that happen here, it has been well-supported by the community,” John said.
READ MORE: Saving Vernon's Towne Theatre focus of community effort
The theatre reopened in September but closed again last month following the fire. Smoke damaged the curtains and the doors were broken as firefighters used the theatre to access the neighbouring property.
It’s been a slow process getting things back up to snuff. With COVID-19, it’s incredibly difficult to find new doors for the building and there’s no timeline on when the work will be completed. The society has insurance, but they’re still waiting for the insurance company to give them the money, he said.
An online fundraiser started for the theatre will help cover expenses that continue as the theatre remains closed, he said. There’s no timeframe on when the theatre will reopen.
FILE PHOTO - Firefighters put out a small fire in the basement of a downtown business next to the historic Vernon Towne Theatre, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/City of Vernon
“We were finally going to be at 100% capacity the week after we closed down, so it was a bit of a gut punch. The board has literally put in thousands of hours saving this theatre and then to have this happen. It’s something that has nothing to do with us and it’s entirely out of our control so we’re trying to roll with the punches,” he said.
If it remains closed for an extended period of time, the board will have to revisit its viability, John said.
“I don’t want any impression that it’s dire but it’s a pretty big setback early in the game.”
The online fundraiser can be found here.
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