Film.Ca Cinemas COVID Relief
Donation protected
An important update from Film.Ca Cinemas (January 25, 2021):
Hello everyone - thank you so much for your generous donations on this GoFundMe. We are so appreciative to all of you who heard our call and supported us - whether that was through monetary donations or sharing it with your network. Special thanks to Michael Howie for starting this COVID relief fund for Film.Ca Cinemas in the first place.
We have decided to close this GoFundMe to create our own GoFundMe. Our goal is to get the word out about our new business pivot - Coming Distractions the show. Our hope is that this series will help save the cinema while we remain closed for an unforeseeable amount of time due to COVID-19 restrictions. If you folks would like to learn more about our plan to save the cinema, you can check out our new page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/hey-kids-lets-put-on-a-show.
For the latest and greatest on everything to do with Film.Ca, make sure to check out our website and social media: https://linktr.ee/filmca.
If you are able to donate or share, that would be amazing. Thank you, everyone. We hope to be able to see YOU at the movies again soon.
-----------------
Film.Ca Cinemas is more than your friendly neighbourhood theatre: it's a vital root in a community.
Provincially-mandated COVID-19 closures are forcing the theatre to shut down again, despite having successfully shown ZERO transmissions via movie theatres in North America and extensive protective measures at Film.Ca Cinemas, meanwhile proven contact points for the virus are allowed to remain open.
I won't speak for the crew at Film.Ca, though I hope they will choose to share this and add their own words. I know that the theatre is struggling, that relief for small businesses is sparse, and that without the support of the community, this important place may not survive the storm. They were already forced to be closed from March 16 to July 26 and the second closure began November 16. Even that brief period of being open was difficult as they were hampered by a lack of new films being distributed to cinemas. With another closure and no sign of when they will be able to reopen, this wonderful venue, gathering place and social hub for the community is at risk.
Despite the hardships, throughout the pandemic, Film.Ca Cinemas has been a cornerstone in the community for many, many people and many, many reasons. A few examples include holding a 24/7 food bank during the first closure, worked as a PPE drop-off/pick up zone for essential workers, held a safe, socially-distanced trunk or treat for community children so they could still participate in Halloween, and have been hosting free movie trivia games for people at home with real prizes.
The above photo is one of the ways Film.Ca Cinemas helped during their shutdown - by organizing an entertainment exchange!
For me, Film.Ca is a cherished memory: every Christmas, going to the theatre to see a movie with my dad and sister while mom "was busy at home." Many of my peers will remember classics like Ernest Saves Christmas, Home Alone, and Jingle All the Way; this is where we'd see those movies and laugh together.
Film.Ca (then Encore Cinemas) was a safe, affordable place to go out with friends and see movies as a teenager. She's All That remains unfortunately burned into my memory; it was here that this trauma was endured. But many other great experiences with movies were here!
Film.Ca was an early job: I got hired to help install new seats in a cinema. Through the ups and downs of my 20s and early 30s, Film.Ca was a place I could go and feel at home, comfortable and relaxed. As I managed mental health difficulties, I knew I could find a reason to laugh, some old friends, and GREAT popcorn.
Above: There's plenty of space to make theatres safe, and there hasn't been a single case traced to a theatre internationally. As an aside, Jeff has blamed me for any squeaks on any seat in the theatre for the last 18 years.
And when my world was yanked out from under me, I found an opportunity that reunited me with people whom I realized were very much my extended family, at Film.Ca Cinemas.
I'm not the only one who knows the real community treasure this place is. Organizations such as the Burloak Theatre Group, Oak Park Neighbourhood Centre, Oakville & Milton Humane Society, Dog Guides Foundation and many, many others have benefited directly from Film.Ca Cinemas; hundreds of campers, young filmmakers, first time job seekers and others have directly benefited from Film.Ca Cinemas; and I've heard stories from so many others who know this place matters.
Please help them weather the storm of COVID-19 and remain a safe place of opportunity, adventure, romance, and gathering. The day will come when we can resume much of our "normal" - it would be tragic if that doesn't include Film.Ca Cinemas.
I will provide more information or an opportunity for a representative of the cinema to add more information as time progresses. Thank you. Find out
more about what's happening at the theatre by visiting www.Film.Ca.
Hello everyone - thank you so much for your generous donations on this GoFundMe. We are so appreciative to all of you who heard our call and supported us - whether that was through monetary donations or sharing it with your network. Special thanks to Michael Howie for starting this COVID relief fund for Film.Ca Cinemas in the first place.
We have decided to close this GoFundMe to create our own GoFundMe. Our goal is to get the word out about our new business pivot - Coming Distractions the show. Our hope is that this series will help save the cinema while we remain closed for an unforeseeable amount of time due to COVID-19 restrictions. If you folks would like to learn more about our plan to save the cinema, you can check out our new page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/hey-kids-lets-put-on-a-show.
For the latest and greatest on everything to do with Film.Ca, make sure to check out our website and social media: https://linktr.ee/filmca.
If you are able to donate or share, that would be amazing. Thank you, everyone. We hope to be able to see YOU at the movies again soon.
-----------------
Film.Ca Cinemas is more than your friendly neighbourhood theatre: it's a vital root in a community.
Provincially-mandated COVID-19 closures are forcing the theatre to shut down again, despite having successfully shown ZERO transmissions via movie theatres in North America and extensive protective measures at Film.Ca Cinemas, meanwhile proven contact points for the virus are allowed to remain open.
I won't speak for the crew at Film.Ca, though I hope they will choose to share this and add their own words. I know that the theatre is struggling, that relief for small businesses is sparse, and that without the support of the community, this important place may not survive the storm. They were already forced to be closed from March 16 to July 26 and the second closure began November 16. Even that brief period of being open was difficult as they were hampered by a lack of new films being distributed to cinemas. With another closure and no sign of when they will be able to reopen, this wonderful venue, gathering place and social hub for the community is at risk.
Despite the hardships, throughout the pandemic, Film.Ca Cinemas has been a cornerstone in the community for many, many people and many, many reasons. A few examples include holding a 24/7 food bank during the first closure, worked as a PPE drop-off/pick up zone for essential workers, held a safe, socially-distanced trunk or treat for community children so they could still participate in Halloween, and have been hosting free movie trivia games for people at home with real prizes.
The above photo is one of the ways Film.Ca Cinemas helped during their shutdown - by organizing an entertainment exchange!For me, Film.Ca is a cherished memory: every Christmas, going to the theatre to see a movie with my dad and sister while mom "was busy at home." Many of my peers will remember classics like Ernest Saves Christmas, Home Alone, and Jingle All the Way; this is where we'd see those movies and laugh together.
Film.Ca (then Encore Cinemas) was a safe, affordable place to go out with friends and see movies as a teenager. She's All That remains unfortunately burned into my memory; it was here that this trauma was endured. But many other great experiences with movies were here!
Film.Ca was an early job: I got hired to help install new seats in a cinema. Through the ups and downs of my 20s and early 30s, Film.Ca was a place I could go and feel at home, comfortable and relaxed. As I managed mental health difficulties, I knew I could find a reason to laugh, some old friends, and GREAT popcorn.
Above: There's plenty of space to make theatres safe, and there hasn't been a single case traced to a theatre internationally. As an aside, Jeff has blamed me for any squeaks on any seat in the theatre for the last 18 years.And when my world was yanked out from under me, I found an opportunity that reunited me with people whom I realized were very much my extended family, at Film.Ca Cinemas.
I'm not the only one who knows the real community treasure this place is. Organizations such as the Burloak Theatre Group, Oak Park Neighbourhood Centre, Oakville & Milton Humane Society, Dog Guides Foundation and many, many others have benefited directly from Film.Ca Cinemas; hundreds of campers, young filmmakers, first time job seekers and others have directly benefited from Film.Ca Cinemas; and I've heard stories from so many others who know this place matters.
Please help them weather the storm of COVID-19 and remain a safe place of opportunity, adventure, romance, and gathering. The day will come when we can resume much of our "normal" - it would be tragic if that doesn't include Film.Ca Cinemas.
I will provide more information or an opportunity for a representative of the cinema to add more information as time progresses. Thank you. Find out
more about what's happening at the theatre by visiting www.Film.Ca.
Fundraising team (2)
Michael Howie
Organizer
Oakville, ON
Bryn Perras
Beneficiary
Jenna Pothier
Team member
