Patricia Theatre

The Patricia Theatre is a historic single-screen movie theatre in Powell River, British Columbia, Canada. It has been in operation since 1913 and is described by its operator as the longest continuously running movie theatre in Canada and the only movie theatre in Powell River. The original theatre building was constructed in 1913 and was replaced by the current building in 1928. The building is an example of the Spanish Revival expression of the Arts and Crafts movement, a style rarely seen in Canada, and is one of only a handful of surviving atmospheric theatres in the country, where architectural elements and ornamentation evoke a sense of being outdoors. It was designed by the influential architect Henry Holdsby Simmonds, who was also responsible for the Stanley Theatre (1930) in Vancouver and the Odeon theatre chain. The theatre is now owned and operated by the Powell River Film Society, which also runs the qathet international film festival. The society's history began in 2002 with the first Powell River Film Festival, held in a high school gym as the "Reel Love Film Festival." In 2004 the Friends of Film Society of Powell River was incorporated under the BC Society Act, and in 2005 it was registered with the Charities Directorate of Revenue Canada. In 2012 the society moved its screenings to the Patricia Theatre, where it continues its annual film festival. The Friends of the Historic Patricia Theatre Society had been working since 2004 to help preserve and restore the theatre as a vital community cultural amenity. In 2012 the community supported the society in raising $90,000 to purchase a digital projection system for the theatre, which was necessary for new release distribution. The two organizations amalgamated in June 2019 as the Powell River Film Society, and the mandate was updated to include maintaining a facility to deliver programming. The society entered into a purchase agreement with the Patricia Entertainment Company Ltd, then the current owner of the theatre, and took ownership of the Patricia Theatre on October 1, 2021. In September 2022 the Powell River Film Society was renamed (to the qathet Film Society). The theatre hosts the annual qathet international film festival, which includes the 3 Ears Indigenous Film Festival, as well as special one-night screenings such as The Last Waltz. It also offers scheduled tours on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 11am during July and August, which include popcorn and short films, with a suggested donation of $10. The tours feature "A Theatre Near You" (2017, 22 minutes), narrated by Ann Nelson, and "The Powell River Story" (1956, 27 minutes), produced by MacMillan, Bloedel and Powell River Limited. The theatre's preservation and restoration have been supported by the society since 2007. The Patricia Theatre is a community cultural amenity and a heritage building in Powell River, originally established as a Garden City and planned according to guidelines of the Arts and Crafts movement.

The Patricia Theatre has been in operation since 1913, making it the longest continuously running movie theatre in Canada according to its operator. The original theatre building was constructed in 1913 and was replaced by the current building in 1928. The current building is an example of the Spanish Revival expression of the Arts and Crafts movement, a style rarely seen in Canada and more common to California, Florida and Texas. It is one of only a handful of surviving atmospheric theatres in all of Canada, where the architectural elements and ornamentation evoke a sense of being outdoors. It was designed by the influential architect Henry Holdsby Simmonds, who was also responsible for the Stanley Theatre (1930) in Vancouver and the Odeon theatre chain. Powell River was originally established as a Garden City and planned according to guidelines of the Arts and Crafts movement. As a one-company mill town, the mill provided everything the community needed – the first company medical plan in the province, credit union, recreational activities, one of the first shopping malls in BC, housing, and a movie theatre. The modern stewardship of the theatre is tied to the Powell River Film Society. In 2002, the first Powell River Film Festival was held in the high school gym as the "Reel Love Film Festival." In 2004, the Friends of Film Society of Powell River was incorporated under the BC Society Act, and in 2005 the organization was registered with the Charities Directorate of Revenue Canada. In 2012, the society moved its screenings to the Patricia Theatre, where it continues its annual Film Festival. The Friends of the Historic Patricia Theatre Society has been working since 2004 to help preserve and restore the Patricia Theatre as a vital community cultural amenity. In 2012, the community supported the Society in raising $90,000 to purchase a digital projection system for the theatre, which was necessary for new release distribution. The two organizations amalgamated in June 2019 as the Powell River Film Society. The mandate of the society was updated to include maintaining a facility to deliver programming. To ensure the theatre experience in the community for generations to come, the Society entered into a purchase agreement with the Patricia Entertainment Company Ltd, then current owner of the theatre. The agreement for sale assures tenure in the property and continuity for the community while fundraising takes place. The Society took ownership of the Patricia Theatre on October 1, 2021. This ensures the only movie theatre in Powell River continues, and facilitates increasing 'critical cinema' programming beyond the two-week winter festival and Cinematheque series during the slow season. In September 2022, the Powell River Film Society was renamed (to the qathet Film Society). The theatre continues to serve as a community cultural venue, hosting the annual qathet international film festival, which includes the 3 Ears Indigenous Film Festival, and special screenings such as The Last Waltz. It also offers scheduled tours on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 11am during July and August, which include popcorn and short films with a suggested donation of $10. The tours feature "A Theatre Near You" (2017, 22 minutes), narrated by Ann Nelson, and "The Powell River Story" (1956, 27 minutes), produced by MacMillan, Bloedel and Powell River Limited. The Society has been dedicated to supporting the preservation and restoration of the theatre since 2007.

• 2022

  Powell River Film Society renamed (to qathet Film Society) in September.

• 2021

  Society takes ownership of the Patricia Theatre on October 1.

• 2019

  Two organizations amalgamate in June as the Powell River Film Society.

• 2012

  Society moves screenings to the Patricia Theatre; community raises $90,000 for a digital projection system.

• 2007

  Society dedicated to supporting preservation and restoration of the theatre.

• 2005

  Organization registered with the Charities Directorate of Revenue Canada.

• 2004

  Friends of Film Society of Powell River incorporated under the BC Society Act; Friends of the Historic Patricia Theatre Society begins work to preserve and restore the theatre.

• 2002

  First Powell River Film Festival held in a high school gym as the "Reel Love Film Festival."

• 1928

  Current theatre building replaces the original.

• 1913

  Original Patricia Theatre building constructed and opened.

A historic, community-owned cinema and cultural venue — the longest continuously running movie theatre in Canada and the only movie theatre in Powell River.

• qathet international film festival

  Annual film festival held at the Patricia Theatre.

• 3 Ears Indigenous Film Festival

  Indigenous film festival held September 25–30.

• Historic theatre tours

  Scheduled tours on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 11am during July and August, including popcorn and short films.

1. 1Patricia Theatre and qathet international film festival | Operating from the Patricia Theatre in Powell River BCqathetfilm.ca
2. 2History | Patricia Theatre and qathet international film festivalqathetfilm.ca
3. 3Patricia History | Patricia Theatre and qathet international film festivalqathetfilm.ca
4. 4Patricia Theatrewikidata.org