However, there have been some recent concerns regarding the volunteer situation, or more accurately, the volunteer coordinating situation. The theatre has always been operated on movie nights by volunteers, and traditionally there has been someone on hand to coordinate them. For many years, this was the role of Clare Littlejohn. However, since she left the community in late 2017, it has been more of a challenge.
“We have very good volunteers. Everyone knows Boissevain has good volunteers and the theatre is no exception to that. The issue we have been having at the theatre lately is that for different reasons we have been going through a few people who have volunteered to coordinate the volunteers. That has been the position difficult to fill.”
He said it is a hard job. Not everyone likes to be the one who calls people up and asks them to work. Lately, they have been posting the theatre shifts on Facebook. It has been more or less working, but not everyone uses social media, and sometimes the platform itself can be a challenge. If there is a shift gap that does not get filled, they need someone to do some calling around.
“It is someone who has the temperament to that kind of work,” he explains, “and has the time to do that sort of work.”
Peters said they have had three people doing the coordination since Littlejohn left, but they often found they did not have the time after starting. The problem is filling last minute gaps in the schedule, as they have often had to rely on certain sets of volunteers, which brings burnout eventually.
“We do have a list of people who have volunteered and are willing to volunteer, we just need someone with the time to look at the shifts available to see who can work there, without putting together the schedule too much ahead of time, because we try as much as possible to connect people with a movie they would like to see anyway.”
As they do not always know what movie will be coming far in the future, they cannot link volunteers with movies too early. Also, as they have full families who volunteer at the theatre, they want to be at movies that are kid friendly. A coordinator can help do this.
A person in that role would keep the list of volunteers up to date, know what movie is playing, what shifts are open and then fill those shifts with volunteers. He leaves the mode of contact – phone call, Facebook message, etc. – to the coordinator. Anyone interested in filling the role can contact Peters at 204-534-6855.
As for the actual volunteers, Peters said there are still dedicated people, including new ones. People have shown a great deal of interest in being involved. Every evening Peters, Shawn Kleebaum or Doug May are on hand as night managers. Usually there are two other people working, one will sell the tickets while two work the canteen. This can change a bit due to how busy the movies are, or if a family is volunteering.
As often is the case with a building starting to show some years, there is some work planned in the theatre. Peters said they have been looking at their seats for a while now. The ones installed in 2012 were already used seats that had been retired from an American theatre. They have held up pretty well, but the committee has noticed the spring loaded parts people sit on are starting to lean a little too far forward.
“Also, we feel with the theatre being open for eight years, this is the right move to make, to replace them. We’ll get some new seats and that will give them more of a life span.”
All 180 seats will be replaced. They are all connected as a part of a system, replacing a few at a time creates more issues. Also, it allows them to start fresh completely.
They are budgeting about $60,000 for this project, which includes a little work on the floor too, including repainting it. They have received a $20,000 grant from the Boissevain & Morton Foundation/Manitoba 150. As well, they will be bringing back the old adopt-a-seat program from the 2012 rebuild. People or organizations can sponsor rows for $1,500, half-rows for $750 and individual seats for $100. There are also some capital reserves as well.
If possible, they will be looking at doing some electrical work in the suspended ceiling at the same time, as it will be easier when all of the seats are out. This would entail adding some lights to the middle of the auditorium to better see seats or read a play program. As well, they might put some conduits and infrastructure for future improvements to stage lighting. They will be looking at some grant assistance to help with this, as they do not want to deplete their reserves, as the building will need some help down the road as it ages.
Peters said he was not sure exactly when they would do all of this work, as it depends whether the seats can be changed at the same time as the electrical. Due to the 150 grant, it does have to be done in 2020. He said in the best-case scenario, the theatre would not be shut down for more than a week or two. They could continue showing movies with partial seating as well. The point is they cannot be shut too long.
“We will be closed as little as possible,” Peters stated.
The theatre remains popular. Last June, they hosted the Red Moon Road concert. There were two weddings last year. It will not be long before the next ADLIB drama production, Clue, hits the stage. The movie industry has been changing, as there are fewer studios, and they are having more restrictions on how a movie can be shown. The industry is organized more and more for the multiplexes, which leaves it more difficult for single screen theatres. However, he says he has a good booker and they continue to work at it.
“I think we’ve done okay. It’s fine; you have to do what you have to do. Some of the studios are more flexible than others. We will continue to do our best.”
By PAUL RAYNER, Recorder staff