The City of Selkirk is nearing a major milestone in the revitalization of the historic Garry Theatre, with a local fundraising campaign now just $13,638 away from its $200,000 goal. As of April 8, 2026, the city has collected $186,362 in community contributions to help support the $2 million project, which covers essential construction, improvements, and outfitting of the facility.
Kyla Ray, the city’s manager of cultural and recreational programming, said the community response has been exceptional. She noted that reaching within one per cent of the fundraising target shows how much the building means to the area. Once the project is complete, the theatre will operate as an independent, community-led, non-profit organization overseen by a board of directors and a theatre manager.
Construction crews have been working on the building since early 2025, but the project is currently running about six months behind the original timeline. Corey Gagne, the city’s manager of buildings and fleet, explained that unexpected issues are common when working with a century-old structure. While the city is targeting a spring 2026 opening, officials are managing the final stages of work on a day-by-day basis to ensure the job is done correctly.
The city took ownership of the Garry Theatre in August 2021 for $350,000 to prevent the property from being sold on the open market. Since then, the project has seen significant local support, including a commitment from the Rotary Club of Selkirk, which pledged $87,500 over five years for stage naming rights. Public interest remains high, with over 1,100 residents participating in consultations during the planning phases and more than 400 expressing interest in volunteering at the theatre once it reopens.
