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The top executive of a Canadian cinema chain is hoping other provinces follow Saskatchewan’s lead when it comes to reopening plans this summer.
Landmark Cinemas CEO Bill Walker was as surprised as any other executive in the theatre industry when he heard Saskatchewan announcing target dates for allowing large crowds back at event facilities, libraries and theatres — but he wasn’t surprised Saskatchewan was taking the initiative of setting an ambitious goal.
“I think Saskatchewan has been the most reasonable province in the country throughout all of this,” Walker said. “What was great about Saskatchewan was that they looked on a risk basis, not a symbolic basis.”
Theatres in Saskatoon and other communities remain open while theatres in Regina have been closed ever since the province introduced restrictions on March 23 which banned indoor gatherings.
Walker isn’t arguing any form of measures — he agreed Regina’s trajectory two months ago was worrisome and restrictions were needed — but he feels theatres were targeted unfairly in many other provinces.
“That’s what has frustrated us about other provinces is that ultimately theatres, we believe, were closed because of the symbolism of a recreational entertainment activity in the midst of ‘everybody should stay home and stay safe,’ ” Walker said.
“People need to do something because doing nothing is not a sustainable option.”
Landmark operates 46 locations across five provinces and one territory. In Saskatchewan, the chain’s cinemas are located in Yorkton, Saskatoon and Regina.
According to the province’s three-step reopening plan, theatres would be allowed to open for a maximum of 150 people in Step Two, targeted for the third week in June, after 70 per cent of residents age 30 and above have received their first dose, with at least three weeks passing since Step One started.
According to numbers released by Premier Scott Moe on Wednesday, 67 per cent of people 40 and older have received a first COVID-19 vaccine dose.
With crowds of people still going out to watch movies during the pandemic, Walker figures upcoming release schedules from major film studios bode well for the province’s reopening timeline.
“Movies are starting to be released and a lot of that content we love to see on the big screen is going to be back on the schedule this summer,” he said.
