President – CaroleAnn Leishman
Vice President – Phil Murphy
Secretary/Treasurer – Ann Nelson
Directors – Amy Sharp, Chloe Smith, Deb Zagwyn
Past President – Roberta Pearson

After the AGM, there was a meeting to discuss the digital conversion and various ideas for fundraising.  The board is now tasked with reviewing the (AMAZING!!!) ideas and where best to focus the society’s efforts for the immediate future, as well as long-term planning.  Stay tuned!

The post-AGM meeting also reviewed the relationship between the society and the theatre:  The Patricia Entertainment Co is a private company owned by Ann & Brian Nelson, and it has an agreement for sale with First Credit Union for the theatre.  The Friends of the Historic Patricia Theatre Society is a registered non-profit society dedicated to the preservation of the theatre.  It is not, however, a registered charity and can not issue tax receipts.  Laura Berezan advised that she had spoken to CRA and the possibility of the society getting charitable status is basically nil because their purpose is to raise funds to preserve a building that is owned by a private corporation.  Co-ownership between the The Patricia Entertainment Co. and the society would not qualify for charitable status – the Society must own 100%.  If one of the objectives of the society was not preservation of the building, then the society could move forward quickly with charitable status.

Digital Conversion: Ann Nelson fielded questions around the digital conversion. Is it possible to lease the equipment?  No, because the business is not currently able to service more debt.  It should be noted that the society was formed to take care of some maintenance items that had been deferred by the prior owner and restore the heritage building to a community and tourism asset.  Other things that need to be done are the cosmetic items as well as structural, but there is still a huge list after the digital conversion is completed, like rewiring, a non-fossil-fuel dependent heating system, another cap on the roof in a few years, etc.  The digital conversion and other projects represent a long-term investment for the whole community.  What is the time frame? There are only 2 companies in Canada that have contracts to install & maintain the digital equipment and they report that if we are able to make an order today with a $45K deposit, we would be put into the schedule and it would happen within 2-4 weeks and $45K due & payable upon completion.  The closer we get to the completion of the conversion of all the Canadian chains (est June), the longer lead time it will take and the studios will no longer feel obligated to keep an inventory of 35mm films.  The total is about $90K:  $75K for equipment + HST + freight + electrical modifications to the booth.  The Patricia Theatre has a third bay which means we can keep our 35mm equipment and could conceivably be the last theatre on the continent that still has its 35mm projector.  Will the digital system upgrade the sound?  Yes!  There will be a brand new sound processor and the sound will be direct from the hard drive instead of off the side of the film.  Annual maintenance costs for digital?  Yes, $2K/year compulsory maintenance contract.  Will there be an ability to incorporate advertising and if so, would it be national or local?  It is possible and typically it is at the local level, but there is a building resentment among audiences toward this.

If you would like to contact the new board, please email them at friendsofthepat@shaw.ca

As I said, there have been lots of great suggestions which I am sure will be up for discussion at the upcoming AGM, this Sunday at 2:30pm at the theatre.  Hope you can join us and add to the conversation.  Please consider becoming a board member for The Friends of the Historic Patricia Society and/or volunteering for a committee.

The nominations committee is also soliciting nominations for board members.  If you have any suggestions (or a willingness to stand for election yourself), please forward that info to the Friends of the Patricia prior to the meeting, or be prepared to be nominated from the floor.  You can email us at friendsofthepat@shaw.ca, or call the theatre at (604) 483-9345, or pop into the theatre in person and let Ann Nelson know.

This week’s movie is War Horse playing until Feb 2, followed by We Bought A Zoo Feb 3-7 and My Week With Marilyn Feb 8-9 (part of the Cinematheque Series).

And don’t forget the special matinee concert at 2:30pm on Sunday Feb 5:  Gary Fjellgaard with Saskia and Darrel.  Tickets are $18.50 for adults, or $15.00 for students and seniors.  Pick them up at Breakwater Books on Alberni Street or the theatre.  This is a fundraiser for the Friends of the Historic Patricia!

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12 @ 2:30PM
at The Patricia Theatre
5848 Ash Avenue

Please join us to find out the issues that are facing the theatre and the society, and how you can help.  This meeting is open to everyone.

Canada's oldest continuously operating movie palace, est 1913

The Patricia, est. 1913, has been operating from its current location since 1928 and projects all of its movies on film by way of two large film projectors that sit on original bases from the earliest days of the theatre’s operation.

Over the past few years, theatres have begun to make the switch to digital projection which requires entirely different equipment, and this year film studios will stop distributing movies on film altogether. This is due to the proliferation of the new technology and because it is cheaper to ship small digital film formats than it is large, multiple reels of film. All distribution of movies will switch to digital format sometime mid-2012 and if the Patricia does not make the upgrades to digital in time for the switch, it will no longer be able to screen movies.  The exact date is uncertain because details are still up in the air and the conversion will be gradual; however, it will most likely occur when all of the major cinema chains are outfitted for digital, which is anticipated to be complete by July 2012.

How can you help? There are a couple of ways:

1.  DONATE
If you can afford to make a donation, please do!  No amount is too small, and we have now have Pay Pal to make it as easy as possible.  Details are on our donate page.

2.  JOIN
Join The Friends of the Patricia Theatre, a non-profit society dedicated to saving the Patricia Theatre.  The society needs all hands on deck so please consider becoming a member.  Details are on our join page.