Don't let this be the final screening for accessible cinema in downtown Victoria.

Downtown Victoria is facing the imminent loss of its remaining accessible cinema spaces. The Capitol 6 has been under threat for some time, and now the recently announced sale of the Odeon building threatens to eliminate affordable, centrally-located cinema options for our community. 

The imminent closure of our downtown movie theatres presents a unique opportunity for the city to explore options for expanding the purview of its support of Arts & Culture in Victoria to include cinema. We see the recent support of Herman’s Jazz Club as indicative of the city’s willingness to support cultural spaces in Victoria.

Why This Matters

Victoria has already lost several music and events venues in recent years, and now faces the loss of its last downtown cinemas. This continuing decline in cultural spaces threatens a vibrant and inclusive arts community that serves people of all ages, backgrounds, and incomes. Without these cinemas, Victoria risks losing a vital source of connection, creativity, and shared experience at the heart of the city.

Cinemas are essential cultural spaces that:

• Provide accessible entertainment for residents of all ages, incomes, and backgrounds
• Contribute to downtown's vibrancy and economic activity
• Create communal spaces where diverse community members gather and connect
• Offer exposure to new ideas, perspectives, and cultural experiences

Watching movies in a theatre is a special experience. Films help us discover new ideas and see the world in different ways. Streaming services cannot replace the communal experience of viewing movies in a dedicated space with friends, family, and the community.

Our Request
We respectfully request that the City of Victoria:

• Initiate an emergency assessment to identify options for maintaining cinema access downtown
• Consider expanding the Victoria Film Festival's mandate and funding to provide year-round programming, similar to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)'s robust and successful model.
• Explore partnerships with property owners, developers, and non-profit organizations to ensure at least one multi-screen cinema remains accessible in the downtown core
• Establish tax incentives or zoning considerations for properties that maintain cultural spaces like cinemas

Join Us
We are a group of Victoria residents deeply concerned about the imminent closure of two of the city’s remaining downtown cinemas.

We implore concerned parties throughout the city to join us in this petition to help support cinema in Victoria and keep movies accessible to all Victoria residents.

By signing this petition, you're telling city officials, property developers, and community leaders that access to movies matters to Victoria residents.