Livingstone-Macleod MLA Chelsae Petrovic delivered a $125,000 provincial grant Friday for the Empress Theatre renovation project. From left: Liisa Gillingham, Pam Young, Brennan Orr, Chelsae Petrovic, Brent Feyter, Margaret Ann Bianco, Aaron Poytress, Christina Fox, Jackie Nelson, Gord Wolstenholme, Stasha Donahue and Mackenzie Hengerer.
The Empress Theatre Society last week launched an ambitious campaign to raise $250,000 as its share of a major renovation project in the 113-year-old building.
The historic theatre will close beginning May 1 for at least six months while the seats, floor and washrooms are renovated.
“The need is getting to be desperate,” Empress Theatre Society board chair Denise Joel said Thursday. “There are some seats that are literally falling apart.”
“None of them are in good shape, but some of them are in terrible shape.”
The seats are so worn out and uncomfortable that people will choose not to attend lengthy movies and concerts.
The society’s Save Our Seats campaign provides several opportunities to contribute to the project.
People, businesses and organizations can sponsor a seat for $500, with the donation recognized on a plaque to be put inside the theatre.
The society will also accept one-time cash donations of any size.
People are also encouraged to spread the word by telling, friends, family and business associates about the fund-raising project.
The theatre’s seats will remain in the original frames but will receive new padding, springs and covering. Adjustments will be made to offer increased leg room.
The floor will be refinished, with adjustments made at the front of the theatre to accommodate wheelchairs. New carpet will be installed.
The women’s washroom will be expanded to add two stalls, with that added space coming from the men’s washrooms, which will have two stalls along with the present urinals.
“It’s always an issue in terms of line-ups, Joel said. “The women’s bathroom just doesn’t meet the need. There’s always a line-up up the stairs.”
Project funding is coming from several sources.
Town council in September approved the $444,230 project and agreed to put $236,531 in the 2025 capital budget.
“We couldn’t have done it just as the Empress Theatre Society,” Joel said. “It has been a real joint effort with the town.”
On Friday, Livingstone-Macleod MLA Chelsae Petrovic delivered a $125,000 grant on behalf of Arts, Culture and Status of Women Minister Tanya Fir.
“We are very, very grateful to the provincial government for their support,” said Coun. Aaron Poytress, who represents council on the Empress Theatre Society board. “We’re excited to get things going.”
The Empress Theatre Society raised about $60,000 in a previous campaign in 2012 and the Ghostbusters: Afterlife premiere in 2021.
The Empress will offer modified programming at Trinity United Church while the theatre is closed.
Donations can be made at www.macleodempress.com at the Box Office on Main Street, or by mailing a cheque to P.O. Box 99, Fort Macleod, T0L 0Z0.
