The Roxy Theatre History

In the heart of downtown Coleman National Historic Site in the South Canadian Rockies in the Crowsnest Pass rests the Roxy Theatre, a significant cultural venue built in 1948 that has been closed for the last 20 years.

The Roxy Theatre’s front façade features aluminum cladding, brickwork, and a neon marquee sign. The rear section is a Quonset hut with seating for 250 and space for a large movie screen and stage.

The vacant historic Roxy Theater was threatened with demolition in 2019. In 2020, recognizing the heritage value and potential of the building, the Crowsnest Historical Society and the Crowsnest Cultural and Recreation Society (Cando) embarked on saving the building. Through a successful community fundraising campaign, the Roxy was purchased by Cando in January of 2021 with the vision of restoring it as a multi-use community performing arts centre. It was designated an Alberta Provincial Historic Resource in 2022.

The Roxy Theatre has played an integral role in the cultural life of the community of Coleman as a performance centre and movie theatre. It is an iconic, historic landmark building and one of three surviving Quonset style theatres in Canada.  Its restoration will see those heritage values maintained for future generations.