Motion to protect movie theatres in downtown Victoria passed by city council

This Thursday a motion came before city council in an effort to protect existing cinema in downtown Victoria and to incentivize additional cinema in future developments. 

The motion was penned collaboratively by Councillors Matt Dell, Dave Thompson and Krista Loughton because they are worried that Victoria could lose its existing cinemas and won’t be able to build any new ones in the near future. 

“Downtown is growing, we’re having more people downtown, our council has focussed heavily on revitalizing downtown—bringing more opportunities for arts and culture and more opportunities for people to come downtown,” said Dell while motivating the motion. 

“What’s happening right now is we’re essentially at risk of losing two of our movie theatres.”

The motion was prompted in part by the Cineplex Odeon on Yates Street going up for sale with a price tag of $8.5 million. 

Furthermore, the Capital 6 theatre is up for redevelopment sometime in the future, and the last drafted plans for this development did not include a theatre. 

In addition to the Odeon, which was initially built in 1948, and Capital 6, there are two other theatres in the downtown core: the Vic Theatre and the IMAX in the Royal BC Museum.

Both of these theatres are single cinema theatres, versus the Odeon and Capital 6 boasting multiple cinemas. 

“We need to keep theatres in downtown,” Dell added. 

What the motion seeks is for City of Victoria staff to report back to council on different ways building theatres could be incentivized in future developments and how to protect the current theatres from being redeveloped. 

“For me I kind of reflect on other things that we’ve lost downtown in recent years that have impacted our small business community,” said Dell.

“I often harp back to a bowling alley. We don’t have one of those in downtown.”

He noted that when Victoria lost its bowling alley, the City of Langford helped build one and it has been a huge draw to the municipality.

“When we lose some of those key cultural infrastructures—whether they be a bowling alley, a movie theatre or a music venue, the people that supported those leave,” Dell added.

Councillor Marg Gardiner criticized the motion, saying that she doesn’t think the City should aid any theatre until its economic viability can be assessed.

“I’m just very worried that we’re wandering off,” Gardiner said in reference to the motion. 

“I’m not against the motion as much as it’s too narrow, so perhaps [Mayor Alto] could help me broaden it, information we need if we’re going to make a decision down the road [sic].”

Councillor Stephen Hammond also criticized the motion, stating that the City already subsidizes theatres, and the arts, generously. 

“We are very generous as a city and I’m proud to be part of that. I don’t agree with all of them and the occasional one that I vote differently on, but the fact is that the arts are very important and theatre is very important,” said Hammond. 

In the end, the motion passed, with only Councillors Hammond and Gardiner voting in opposition. 

Now, City staff will begin work on this matter and report back to council with options and data regarding how theatres can be protected and incentivized. There is no time limit for staff to do so.