A handful of movie theatres on Vancouver Island are preparing to reopen doors to the public this week.
IMAX Victoria and Cineplex’s SilverCity Victoria and Galaxy Cinemas in Nanaimo are slated to reopen this Friday, July 3.
IMAX Victoria said in a press release that after a “thorough planning process” was approved by Work Safe BC, they will reopen to the public on July 3 following nearly four months of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“We are so grateful for the local community support during our shutdown. We can’t wait to reopen the theatre again so that people can come and enjoy our films in a safe and comfortable environment,” Paul Wild, IMAX Victoria theatre director, said in a press release.
Located inside the Royal BC Museum, IMAX Victoria says theatre seating capacity will be limited to just 50 people as part of physical distancing requirements set out by the province. The gift shop and concession will be open during operating hours, however, showtimes will no longer be hourly, which IMAX Victoria says is being done in order to allow for a “rigorous” cleaning schedule.
IMAX Victoria says it be open six days a week and will be screening Raiders of the Lost Ark – the 1981 hit movie starring Harrison Ford – from July 3 until July 16.
The Royal British Columbia Museum re-opened its doors earlier in June.
Meanwhile, Cineplex also announced plans to reopen eight of its movie theatres across British Columbia on July 3, including its SilverCity Victoria and Galaxy Cinemas in Nanaimo.
“The past three months have given us a new appreciation for the importance of friends and family and the power of shared experiences with those we love,” Ellis Jacob, president and chief executive officer of Cineplex, said in a press release, adding. “Entertaining is what we do best, and we simply can’t wait to safely welcome guests back to our theatres for some much-deserved entertainment, fun and escape.”
Cineplex says enhanced physical distancing measures will be in place at all of their locations and all theatres including seats, handrails and children’s booster seats will be wiped down with “industrial-grade cleaning products” between each showtime.
Theatres will also have reduced capacity, reserved seating, limiting food offerings, and hand sanitizer readily available.
Box offices, however, will be closed and guests will be required to book online or at a self-serve kiosk and guests are asked to arrive no more than 15 minutes before the scheduled showtime. VIP Cinemas, meanwhile, will remain closed.
Cineplex added it will be offering $5 movie tickets and screening a handful of movies including Bloodshot, The Invisible Man, Sonic The Hedgehog, Jumanji: The Next Level, Bad Boys For Life, Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey, The Way Back and I Still Believe.
In some markets, Cineplex theatres will be showing a “curated selection” of movies by director Quentin Tarantino.
For IMAX Victoria showtimes and information visit www.imaxvictoria.com and for Cineplex showtimes and information visit www.cineplex.com.
CHEK News
