The Monarch Theatre opened its doors on December 21, 1911. Although other theatres opened before the Monarch, this theatre showed films on opening night and therefore has laid claim to being one of the first theatres dedicated to moving pictures in Canada.
The theatre has been beautifully restored and recently upgraded (its projection system is fully digital), the Monarch is the oldest still-operating movie theatre in Western Canada, and one of the oldest in the world.
(Monarch photo courtesy of Joan Kennedy)