On Aug. 26, the City of Selkirk hosted the official building dedication for The Garry Theatre, marking a major milestone in the project and passing the torch from construction to creativity after years of planning, fundraising, restoration and redevelopment.
In attendance were Her Honour Anita Neville, Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba; the Honourable Matt Wiebe, Minister of Justice and Attorney General; Selkirk Mayor Larry Johannson and members of Council; City CAO & Garry Theatre President Duane Nicol; members of City administration; project partners; sponsors; and community leaders.
A special day
Executive Director of The Garry Theatre Selkirk Inc., Julia Brown, welcomed everyone to the event.
“On behalf of The Garry Theatre Board of Directors and the City of Selkirk, welcome to the Garry Theatre Building Dedication,” Brown said at the ceremony held at The Garry.
“Thank you for joining us as we celebrate this exciting new chapter for arts, culture, and community in Selkirk.”
The Lieutenant Governor delivered the land acknowledgement and then addressed the crowd, speaking about the important role The Garry Theatre will play in bringing people together and benefitting citizens and artists for many years to come.
A focal point for the city
“This fully accessible theatre will be the focal point for the city, a place to gather and to celebrate the arts from the stage to the silver screen. It will bring people together perhaps away from their portable screens, to connect with others, nurture arts appreciation, and strengthen community pride in what your fellow citizens envisioned and have made so wonderfully real”.
Speaking next, Minister Wiebe highlighted how the restored theatre honours its history while creating new opportunities for arts, culture and community connection.
“The Garry Theatre has a long history as a movie theatre and now to expand that to the arts more broadly and to bring together community really speaks to who we are as Manitobans. The events that will be showcased here will benefit the community, will benefit Manitobans, and I’m very excited to be invited back to see a show or two here in the future.”
Mayor Johannson thanked the Provincial Government for providing significant investment through the Arts, Culture and Sport in Community Large Capital Grants Program and the Climate and Green Plan Funding Program.
“Today is a day that many people in our community have hoped for, worked toward, and believed in for years.”
Mayor Larry Johannson
“Your support helped turn a vision into reality and ensured this historic building could be preserved for future generations,” Johannson said.
“Today is a day that many people in our community have hoped for, worked toward, and believed in for years. It is my privilege, on behalf of Selkirk Council and all of Selkirk, to stand before you as we formally dedicate this beautifully restored building and celebrate the beginning of its next chapter.”
A community vision
“The Garry Theatre has been part of the fabric of our community for more than 75 years. It has been a place where memories were made, stories were shared, and people came together. When the doors closed in 2021, many wondered what the future would hold for this landmark. Today, we have our answer. This building stands as proof of what can happen when a community comes together around a shared vision.”
The city purchased the Garry in 2021 with plans for it to be a non-profit, community-run facility. The public response was overwhelmingly in favour of the theatre having a second act, and people shared their enthusiasm in many ways, including a whopping 1,100-plus taking a survey and submitting their ideas for the theatre’s future.
The long road of the Garry’s journey
Construction on the new Garry started early in 2025, and the city initiated a Founders Campaign – which offered various types of sponsorship and raised just shy of $200,000 – and set about establishing a Board of Directors, which is in place now and has hired Executive Director Brown.
Renovations to The Garry included an accessible entryway, wheelchair lift to access the theatre, dedicated wheelchair seating area, renovated accessible washrooms, new flooring and seating, roof repairs, HVAC system replacement, electrical system replacement and aesthetic improvements.
Revitalizing the downtown
Nicol said the purchase and renovation of The Garry align with the city’s Strategic Plan, which, under Priority 1, calls for the revitalization of downtown. The city’s Downtown Renewal Strategy has ushered in the redesign of Manitoba Avenue East, where The Garry is located, and seven blocks of Eveline Street in the downtown area.
“If you want something different you have to do something different. Council made the bold decision to invest in ourselves, to invest in our downtown, to invest in our community, to invest in arts and culture; and most importantly, to invest in the future of our community,” Nicol said.
“This was not about saving an old building. It was about making new possibilities. It was about recognizing that communities thrive when they have places where people can come together, share experiences, build relationships and create a sense of belonging.”
Nicol touched on how a project like this is only possible when an entire community comes together.
“This was not about saving an old building. It was about making new possibilities. It was about recognizing that communities thrive when they have places where people can come together, share experiences, build relationships and create a sense of belonging.”
Duane Nicol, Chief Administrative Officer
“Yes, this will operate as a theatre, but its purpose is much larger. Its purpose is to strengthen our downtown. Its purpose is to grow our local arts and culture scene. Its purpose is to bring together people to make neighbours out of strangers. Its purpose is to support local businesses and vibrant local economy. Its purpose is to create opportunities for young people and its purpose is to inspire pride in our community and strengthen our sense of place,” Nicol said.
Johannson said everyone from architects, to engineers, consultants, tradespeople and contractors need to be acknowledged for making The Garry transformation a reality. So too do city staff.
“I want to recognize the tremendous efforts of city staff from across multiple departments. This project required countless hours of planning, coordination, problem-solving, and commitment. Your work behind the scenes has been instrumental in getting us to this moment,” he said.
Johannson also thanked Council for having the vision to invest in the space as a hub of community and culture in Selkirk.
More than reopening a building
The excitement that has been in the air since the city purchased the building in 2021 has never waned, and with the opening of The Garry now clearly in site, Johannson said he’s proud of the steps taken to arrive at this moment and he’s excited for the future memories to be created in this space.
“Today is about more than reopening a building. It is about preserving our history, strengthening our downtown, supporting the arts, and creating a gathering place where our community can connect for generations to come,” Johannson said.
“The Garry Theatre belongs to this community, and I cannot wait to see the memories that will be created here in the years ahead.”
An announcement on the opening of the Garry Theatre is expected in the coming weeks.
