The historic Patricia Theatre is in need of funding to upgrade to digital equipment ASAP, or there is the very real risk that Canada’s oldest continuously operating movie palace will go dark. The Friends of the Historic Patricia Theatre has launched a new campaign to get 1000 people donating $90 each. Please click on the donate button today to help us reach this goal and prevent this Canadian gem from going dark.
If you prefer to mail your donation, please make your cheque payable to Friends of the Historic Patricia Theatre and send to 5848 Ash Avenue, Powell River, BC V8A 4R6
Or come on by! We’d love to see you in person 
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I trust that Powell River will support you. I will come by.
Have you considered setting up a “movie pass” system in exchange for the necessary donations? Maybe if people donated $75 they could get a year of free passes for one person. Of course that number and length of pass validation could be anything, but as an example. It might motivate people to be more willing to donate and help you reach your goal much faster.
I’m a supporter of the theater and will be donating as well. It’s an important part of Powell River history and should be preserved.
Hi Darryl – Thanks for the suggestion! This is definitely something that has been brought up and is being seriously considered. I am sure it will be a topic of discussion at the AGM on Feb 12. Will we see you there?
I think it would be a good idea to publicize the idea that monies given will be held in trust, in case the goal is not met, so that people feel that their giving will indeed make a difference. If that info was made known, then I think more people would give.
Thanks for pointing this out Val! Yes, all funds raised for this project are held in a separate bank account and accounted as ‘restricted for digital conversion’ on the Society’s financial records, and people may indeed request that their donations be returned if a project does not go through, otherwise they will be redirected to another Friends of the Pat project.
Have you considered/tried contacting regional television news stations? Say, CTV?
It seems to me that The Patricia is a vital part not only of Powell River history, but also of provincial and even national interest. And of course, TV news coverage would instantly and vastly increase the base of potential donations. It might also facilitate contact with people in the film industry, who might be able to help with obtaining at least some of the digital hardware as a donation. Just a thought…
Thanks Sabine. Yes, a suggestion along those lines was one of the many that came up at the AGM. The board now has the task of reviewing and choosing which ones to concentrate on
The Patricia Theatre is awesome and I don’t want to lose it because it just has been a great thing for lots of us:)
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I have never visited the movie theatre here but I do love movies and so does my family. People on a very tight budget find it very hard to make it out to experience this.
Every Monday is Cheap Nite – just $5.50!
I definitely want to see the Patricia survive. I’m unclear, though, as to what the ownership status of the theatre is. Is it community owned? Is it privately owned?
Hi, Ron….thanks for the question. It’s something that comes up frequently and we are working on an FAQ page for this website. In the meantime, here is the short & long of it:
Short Answer: The building is owned by FCU, is operated by the Patricia Entertainment Company, and any equipment/furnishings acquired by the Friends of the Pat for use in preserving and operating the building are owned by the Friends of the Pat.
Long Answer: The Patricia is owned by the First Credit Union and is operated by the Patricia Entertainment Company, which has an Agreement for Sale with the Credit Union that allows them to preserve the building through operations and to work towards ownership. Over the years, the Friends of the Patricia have contributed to the restoration of the building and its future preservation by fundraising for various improvements, like the salvaged Orpheum Theatre seats and the replicated flag pole, with a goal of eventual community ownership when the viability of the operations has been demonstrated. Now, the future of the building and the services it provides to the community are threatened by a very expensive compulsory shift to a different technology which neither the FCU nor the Patricia Entertainment Company are able to fund. If the Friends are ever to be able to buy out the debt from the FCU and the Company and acquire the Theatre for the community, they must pitch in with the fundraising for the new equipment before there is no more 35mm product available to show and the Theatre can no longer operate. If the Theatre can’t be operated to service the debt with the FCU, it will have to be sold on the open market to private owners or property developers, and will then be lost to the community as a cinema and as a heritage asset. Ironically, if the Friends are able to acquire the equipment needed, and sustainability can be achieved through the anticipation of reduced operating costs and increased alternative programming, it will accelerate the process for the Theatre to become a community asset, as the Society will be able to demonstrate a healthier business model than the Patricia Entertainment Company has previously been able to accomplish and should then be eligible for the financing required to buy the Theatre.
Just an idea from the other side of the Pacific (Aus) Could you “sell” the naming rights to a large corp for a period of time eg $10000 from Tim Hortons gets the name “changed” to “The Tim Hortons Patricia Theatre” for 2 years (read it off the kids shirts) Or talk to a drink/snack mob and for a time you’ll exclusively sell their merchandise Either way they would get good publicity out of it (which you would make certain of). Best of luck the place looks awesome
We just can’t afford to let the Pat go dark – the history, the wonderful mural paintings, the lovely lush velvet curtains, the acoustics for live music – and the only place in Powell River where we can consistently go to see first-run movies in a theatre setting, 7 nights a week (plus matinees on some days), and meet our neighbours into the bargain.
And did you know that, if the Pat would have to close, we can’t get it back again? Parking regulations (the lack of parking spaces on the property) would prevent it ever opening again as a movie theatre.
Going to a movie at the Pat is a unique experience – and with digital projection and sound it’s only going to get better.
We are contributing to the fund, because we want this gem to keep on sparkling – way into the 21st Century!
Will donation receipts be provided? If so this may make it beneficial for businesses to donate larger amounts or maybe any individuals that want a little tax break.
Hi Machalle – The Friends of the Patricia Theatre Society is a registered non-profit society but not a charity so, unfortunately, we are unable to provide tax receipts.
Recently while attending a Powell River Kings Game, I purchased a $20 ticket and the first prize was for a new car. It was a wonderful way for me to show my support for our hockey team at a very reasonable cost (I am not able to afford the $90/person you really require but I could spend $20). I believe that over 4,600 tickets (of 5,000 printed) were sold so that was a very successful money making tactic. For you, $20 x 4,500 might be easier and faster to achieve than $90 x 1,000.
If you, The Patricia Theatre were to follow this example by asking for a donation of a car, from a local car dealership or maybe even the Jim Pattison Group and/or Mr. Jim Pattison himself, who I have read is very generous, for his Save-On-Foods has been an active business member in our community for a very long time – . they could deduct the cost for income tax purposes, but also be seen as a major contributor for their advertising and marketing purposes, for your wonderful and unique Canadian historical site preservation.
Could you contact The Powell River Kings organisation to find out the process they went through to make their fundraising goal such a successful reality? Just a few thoughts for you to think about.
Good luck with your endeavours, and keep up the good work. I intend to complete the membership form and get it in the mail.
Thanks for the suggestion! We will definitely check into it. Have you seen the youtube video? You might recognize a few faces in there from that day at the Kings game! Many families and co-workers are putting their $10 & $20 together. All donations are gratefully accepted
Hello Karen, It seems like there are some good people working on this. Sometimes it takes a crisis to shake things up. I’m glad the society is pursing ownership. You should be able to get grants then?
Did “Willy Blizzard” contact you re doing a benefit concert?
My cheque is going in the mail today
Thanks Susan! I checked but no one has heard yet from Willy Blizzard. If you have his contact details, could you send them to friendsofthepat@shaw.ca please? The board is actively searching out and working on grants as well but, of course, these can take some time.