Garry Theatre gets boost from community support
The City of Selkirk nearly reached their Founder Campaign goal of $200,000, which set an ambitious target of $200,000 in community contributions towards the Garry Theatre’s restoration. The campaign, in addition to grant and government funding, will contribute to the total goal of $2 million needed to pay for the construction, improvements and outfitting of the facility.
The Founders Campaign raised $186,362 in community contributions, just one per cent shy of its goal, ensuring the iconic Manitoba Avenue theatre will once again open its doors to the community.
“We were blown away by the response,” said Kyla Ray, the city’s Manager of Cultural and Recreational Programming.
“To be within one per cent of our goal speaks volumes about how much this building means to Selkirk and the surrounding area.”
Though the official Founders Campaign fundraising period is over, residents from Selkirk and beyond can still contribute to the fundraising effort. There are still options like naming a seat, having your name added to the online/digital donor wall, or becoming a sponsor, which both residents and businesses alike are welcome to take part in.
Whether someone wants to leave a personal legacy or support the arts in a meaningful way, we’d still love to have them involved,” said Ray.
The realities of upgrading an older building like the Garry Theatre mean that there is still work to be done, but with the memories that it holds for residents, as well as being a striking historic building in Selkirk’s downtown, it was worth it to the City to invest in, and the community agreed when the property was purchased in 2021.
Construction on the new Garry started early in 2025, and though the city was hopeful it could open by the end of the year, the old building had some surprises, which meant that the project is now about six months behind the projected timeline.
“With an old building, surprises happen,” said Corey Gagne, the city’s Manager of Buildings and Fleet.
“You can plan as much as possible, but once walls are opened and systems are examined, unexpected issues can arise.”
Delays include everything from construction material availability and contractor scheduling to equipment delays and unexpected work to the building’s foundation.
The City has also been working on their end to establish a non-profit corporation for The Garry, build the board of directors, develop by-laws, policies, and operation procedures, make plans for hiring staff, and continue fundraising efforts that are critical to long‑term sustainability.
“All of these pieces are absolutely essential. And all take a significant amount of time on top of the municipal team’s regular work,” said Selkirk CAO Duane Nicol.
In addition, the city realized that some additional renovations made more sense to complete while they were already doing construction.
“In the design phase of this project, we realized that some of the future phase two elements from the business plan were actually more cost effective to be done as part of the initial phase one renovation, specifically the expansion of the stage and the addition of live event audio and lighting equipment. While this expanded the scope of the project, making it more expensive and taking more time, it provides The Garry with more functionality from day one and reduces the long-term costs,” Nicol said.
The plan is to have the space not only continue to be able to be used as a theatre but also to have it available as a place for locally produced cultural experiences, like music, comedy, dance, and more.
One question that does not yet have an answer is when the official opening of The Garry will take place.
“We really hope for this spring,” Gagne said.
“At the same time, we’ve learned that major delays can happen, and we’re taking things day by day. The goal is to do this right, not just fast. But we’re close.”
Despite the challenges, excitement remains high on all sides.
“We know the community is excited, and so are we,” Nicol said.
For anyone who wants to stay updated on this project, there are a few different ways that the City is keeping everyone informed. You can follow the Garry Theatre on social media (@thegarrytheatre) and sign up for The Garry Theatre Stage Notes online newsletter. Followers and subscribers will be the first to know about construction progress, opening updates, and new and existing opportunities to get involved.
