StettlerLocal.com December 18, 2023 at 5:00 pm
Stettler's Jewel Theatre has shown its last film for the foreseeable future.
Trolls Band Together was the final feature at the Jewel on December 7. There were well over 100 in the audience that day, including Kindergarten and Grade One students from Stettler Elementary School.
"It filled my heart with joy to see the theatre full of kids on our last showing at the Jewel," said owner Wendy Rairdan in a Facebook post.
A staff member agreed. "It was an emotional day," she said, "but hosting all those children made it so rewarding."
Levi Holwell and Jaimie Stewart, of Back Road Productions, were also at the Jewel on December 7 to interview staff, and to film the last full day of operations.
Their documentary, tentatively titled Magic Hours, is a look at independent Alberta cinemas. It will air on CBC Gem in 2024.
Although the Jewel showed its last film on December 7, the theatre was open the following two Saturdays to sell popcorn and redeem gift cards.
During Rairdan's tenure as owner, the Jewel Theatre was recognized for its "Green Jewel Program" and was awarded the Eco Excellence Award by the Town of Stettler in 2021.
The Jewel also supported local non-profit organizations with its Popcorn for Charity program. For every 30 minutes a volunteer bagged popcorn, $20 was donated to the volunteer's charity of choice.
"In the last two years, Jewel Theatre Volunteers worked 509 half-hour shifts," says Rairdan. "We raised a total of $10,180."
Local organizations that received some of these proceeds include the Heartland Youth Centre, Spirit's Respite Ranch, and Stettler Handi-Bus, among many others.
The Jewel discontinued showtimes due to film industry challenges, the residual impacts of COVID, and rising operational costs.
However, Rairdan remains open to future possibilities for the theatre, including community partnerships and collaborations.
The Jewel Theatre is listed with Lyndsey Delwo at Re/Max First Choice.
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