Ituna residents hope to buy and transform historic theatre

When Peter Overduin heard Ituna’s historic movie theatre was going on the auction block, he saw an opportunity to return the movie magic and more to the small town.

“I don’t want to see this go,” he said. “We were caught by surprise.”

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Overduin is leading a campaign collecting investments from people in town and the surrounding rural municipalities to purchase the theatre and renovate it into a community-owned arts co-operative.

The Ituna town councillor said the auction will take place on Friday.

“This has been a very enlightening, revealing experience for me … it’s been awesome to see the growing enthusiasm for this,” he said. “There’s a lot of goodwill to see this succeed.”

The Ituna Theatre first began screening movies in 1946, and has gone through four owners in that time.

If the theatre is acquired through the auction, Overduin said it will turn into an investment co-operative that would give people ownership and allow them to make decisions relating to the cinema.

“It can be successful as a business,” he said. “It would continue to be a vital part of our community.”

Overduin said he’d like to see the theatre’s use go beyond the screen.

He’s hoping to transform the building into a Community Arts Centre hosting live performances, birthday parties, music, workshops and community programming.

“Wouldn’t it be great to have a Rocky Horror Picture Show party?” Overduin said. “We could have had a Grey Cup party in here.”

The Ituna Theatre first began showing movies in 1946. (Peter Overduin/submitted)

Diane Olech has lived in Ituna her entire life and put her support behind the campaign.

“I’d like to preserve what we have,” she said. “The theatre has been part of my life, my kids’ life and all my grandchildren’s life.

“It’s always been a place we went to and enjoyed.”

The first movie she saw at the cinema was Titanic in 1953.

“My dad came to Canada with his parents in 1912, so the Titanic was close to his heart,” Olech said. “He made sure that he took us all to the movie as soon as he came to town.”

If the campaign doesn’t win the auction, the funds will be refunded to investors.

Overduin said he wants to see the rural theatre thrive.

“We’re going to do our best to save it and keep it forever in Ituna management through the business co-op model,” he said.