The Weyburn Theatre Community Service Cooperative recently announced a sponsorship for Theatre B in the future Credit Union Spark Cinema. Read more HERE.

Jo Anne Bannatyne-Cugnet and Valleyview Petroleums Ltd. have committed the $150,000 for the smaller theatre in the cinema, and they'll be calling it none other than the Soo Theatre.

Cugnet told Discover Weyburn this morning that she thinks it'll be good for Weyburn to keep a part of the history of the old theatre in this new one.

"I think it's good for Main Street, I think it's good for all the businesses, and I think it's good for our community," she commented. "It's jobs for young people, whether it's working in the concession or at the ticket booth, it's all part of being in Weyburn, and Weyburn being successful."

"Just recently, I took my grandchildren up to a show in Regina, and by the time it was all done, I just started to add it up, and I thought about how many people cannot do that, time-wise, and also the expense and the travel. I'm hoping that by having movies on Main Street back in Weyburn that all the children in our community will benefit from that and they'll get to go to show," she shared. 

She said she loves that there will be two theatres in the new Spark Cinema.

"The idea that when parents can be in one theatre watching an appropriate show for them, their children can be in the other theater watching a show," she noted. "I think it's important that we provide these social opportunities here for our kids."

Cugnet said she has a fond memory of growing up in Estevan, getting to go see special movies at Christmas time.

"We'd go with our Japanese orange and our bag of candy and we just thought we had scored, and of course the show was free, so I'm hoping that those kinds of opportunities happen here as well, and that all kids can go." 

While inspired by the initiative of the WTCSC, the group that has formed to create the cinema, Cugnet said the reason she is sponsoring Theatre B is because the Weyburn Credit Union provided the opportunity.

"They were originally going to sponsor Theatre B, and then they've stepped up and done the main sponsorship, so that's why I jumped in when I had that opportunity. So I'm happy to be sponsoring Theatre B and I hope that it benefits the community."

She said the name chosen for Theatre B was a simple matter of preserving that little bit of history.

"I understand that the world marches on, I'm an old person and I'm falling behind, but there's a little bit of nostalgia with the former theatre. And this way, it's just kind of comfortably there," she stated. 

Cugnet encourages others to get on board with helping the WTCSC reach its fundraising goal, as they have just under $500,000 left to go.

"I'm hoping people will step up and be part of making this happen, and of course, we experienced that with the Triple C Centre, when the community stepped forward, and now we're enjoying that building and that facility with the school. So I think this is just one more thing that enhances the community for all of us, for all ages."

She added there's truly nothing like the silver screen, surrounded by the people that you know from around town.

"I just think it's going to be a good thing for our community, and I hope everyone who can come on board and helps support it in some way."

President of the WTCSC, Ryan Janke, said they're excited to have this sponsorship, as it means they now have sponsorships for both of the two theatres as well as the title sponsorship.

"We're really excited that she decided to keep the Soo Theatre name involved in some capacity, so having it on that auditorium means that it will still be part of the building," he commented. "The Soo Theatre name was part of Weyburn for 70 years and the Soo Line, of course, is very important to Weyburn's history."

Janke said the fundraising is in good shape and the project is assured to go forward, with construction beginning as early as spring 2024.

Sponsorship opportunities include stars, ideal for individuals or small groups, "which are like your Hollywood Walk of Fame stars that will appear in the lobby."

There are also recliner seat sponsorship opportunities as well, with all the details on weyburntheatre.com.

"It's first come, first served, so don't get left out. Get those as soon as you can and have your name in the lobby, or you can have your name attached to a chart indicating which seat it is that you sponsored. Those will be up there for as long as we can keep them." 

Follow the WTCSC on Facebook HERE.

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