This month marks my tenth anniversary with NCTS (Nelson Civic Theatre Society). I started in November 2014 as Executive Director, with a goal to build out a three-screen venue in approximately 3 years. The goal was clear, concept drawings were complete, and some significant fundraising and development goals had already been reached: we had digital projection and air conditioning. In my first two weeks on the job, I watched the transformation of the lobby of The Civic Theatre take place to upgrade it to a more modern standard, all with modular cabinetry because we knew it was "only for now."
Lessons Learned Through Time
Fast forward ten years and we are all older and wiser. We know now some things that we only learn through experience, like the value of reputation and programming history in making a funding application, the complexity of how cinemas that show commercial work are perceived next to nonprofit counterparts (although this has improved immensely), and how long a capital project actually can take to come to fruition, especially in an old building. I remember hearing at a fundraising conference that “every capital project takes a decade” and thinking, Not ours! We're going to get it done in half the time! Well, experience has shown otherwise, and I’ve also learned that patience can sometimes be our best ally.
Our Resilience and Accomplishments
In ten years, NCTS has screened thousands of films, hosted hundreds of low-barrier events, and consistently felt the support of our 1,300+ members. We've raised millions for necessary upgrades and for our vision to come. Despite setbacks—pandemic closures, snow loads, and now the Civic Centre roof repair—we’re still here, and that’s something to celebrate.
Yet through it all, one truth remains: the long-term stability of our society depends on completing our three-screen renovation. We’ve carefully evaluated, tested, and defended this plan. We know without doubt that it is the best way for The Civic Theatre to continue to delight and welcome audiences for future generations, and I can't wait to see it happen. And soon.
A Critical Year Ahead
We are now so close, and yet NCTS is facing our hardest year yet. I feel like I've called previous years "the hardest yet" in letters to our community before, but the journey has been fraught with unexpected turns and challenges. The Civic Theatre is such an important venue in downtown Nelson and for our community overall, and as its guardians, our staff and board remain fiercely committed to protecting its future. I’m so proud of how far we have come, and eager to take these final steps toward our future venue, our Home for our Imaginations.
You may have heard about the generous grant from Nelson City Council to support NCTS through this fall, and it has been a huge relief to us, but it doesn't close the gap. NCTS needs operating support this year in a way that is different from any year before, in that we have lost 80% of our income since April when the theatre was closed. Now, with timelines finally distilling around when the roof repair will be complete and when NCTS will be able to start our renovation, we are expecting this financial predicament to continue until early 2026.
Our Current Reality and Ongoing Needs
Here are some facts about what is going on right now:
Our 2024-25 Operating Fund Goal: $150,000 to Stay on Course
In our current fiscal year (July 2024-June 2025), we must raise an additional $150,000 to end the year without a deficit. We will continue to apply for grants and hopefully be able to sell more tickets through future temporary locations, but as it stands, this is the financial gap we face.
We have set an ambitious and necessary goal to raise 50% of this amount before December 31, 2024. This will enable us to focus on the work leading up to the capital project and continue to remain visible and relevant to our community, bringing you films at The Shoebox, and keeping our storefront at Reo's Video open and available (and with FREE film borrowing for members!). It will give us the capacity to continue to offer our signature all-age events, such as Home for The Holidays, the New Year's Eve Pajama Party, and the Oscar Red Carpet and Karaoke Party. It will support our ability to continue programming such as NCTS' artists residency and the STOODIS Indigenous Film Festival, and all our work to support the region's film industry through the Kootenay Screen-Based Industry Workers Program and the Kootenay Regional Film Commission.
We are SO close now to our vision for three screens, and when we get there, we intend to use the income generated from our operations to build more programs and services than ever to benefit our community. Your donation toward our annual fund today is genuinely an investment in The Civic Theatre of the future, as it will reduce our need to borrow to cover operating costs this year, putting more money into those future programs instead of loan repayment.
Ways You Can Help Right Now
There are several ways you can support NCTS this year:
Major Gifts
If it is within your capacity to make a major gift to NCTS this year, please contact us here and we will be in touch right away.
Our Future is Bright, Thanks to You
While things are so challenging now, I am so grateful to be writing this letter.
It is through the generosity and shared vision of donors and patrons over the last decade that NCTS has come this far, and we are now so close to the pinnacle and culmination of our collective efforts. It is because of you - our members, patrons, donors, and volunteers - that we are still here.
We are so close, and when the theatre reopens, we’ll welcome you back to an even better space—one that’s more accessible, revitalized, and poised to serve our community in new and exciting ways. Every dollar given to our operating fund now will help secure this bright future, keeping us ready and resilient.
Please consider making a gift that will help us bridge the gap during this crucial time. Your support will fuel our efforts now, and it will also bring us one step closer to that extraordinary reopening moment—one we can’t wait to share with you.
Thank you for standing by us, as you always have.
With gratitude,
Eleanor Stacey
Executive Director, NCTS
PS. Don't forget that NCTS is a registered Canadian charity! We can offer a charitable receipt for your gift.