Forty years ago to the month, ECHO Players decided to buy an old, unused movie theatre in Qualicum Beach and transform it into the company’s permanent home and performance space. However, that process wasn’t entirely smooth sailing.
“It was filthy from one end to the other,” recalled Doug Klassen, who first viewed the Village Theatre with fellow ECHO Players member Paddy McGarrigle.
Yet despite the fact all of the seats had been stripped out of the movie theatre and the space was being used for storage, Klassen said he and ECHO Players still saw some potential.
So, as said in a history published for the theatre’s 25th anniversary, ECHO Players agreed to purchase the old theatre for $37,000. Owners Russel Bergstrum and Jack Phillips even extended a mortgage of $20,000.
“They were very kind,” said the theatre company’s past president Alistair McVey of the previous owners. “They made it easier for the society to buy the building.”
However, another hurdle quickly presented itself to the group: lack of money.
Klassen explained that ECHO Players had neither equity nor credit rating. So, he and McGarrigle decided to take on the mortgage to essentially hold on to the theatre for the company. While he called the move a risk, Klassen said he felt a theatre would be an asset to the community and that the good feelings of being in a group of “like-minded” people “made it worth it.” Plus, he said he had trust in McGarrigle and the theatre group.
“You have to trust people until you can’t,” he said.
“It was an amazing act of courage to put their own finances on the line,” said McVey.
Joy Mackay, who Klassen calls “the glue that held ECHO Players together before the theatre,” was also instrumental in purchasing the theatre. According to club minutes from Oct. 22, 1974, she was given power of attorney alongside Klassen and McGarrigle to represent ECHO Players in the purchasing of the Village Theatre. While her name was not on the mortgage, the building’s 25th anniversary history said that Mackay “tirelessly investigated, pursued and wrote up government grants.”
Many other members of the group also helped pound the pavement in search of donations. In the end, ECHO Players raised $17,000 for the theatre purchase, plus a little more to start renovations.
And renovate they did. According to McVey, members and volunteers had until Mar. 31, 1975 to install seats, a curtain and lights; build a stage and dressing rooms; and set up a sound system so the Village Theatre could host the North Island Drama Festival.
“We had a lot of work parties,” said Klassen. “Everybody pitched in.”
The festival was a success and was the first of many more to come.
Since then, much has changed at the Village Theatre. In the end, Klassen said he and McGarrigle held the mortgage for no more than three years before it was taken over by ECHO Players. McVey then said the group managed to pay off the mortgage in 25 years. He also added that while there have been times when money was tight the theatre found monetary stability thanks to theatre’s audiences, sponsors, local business partners, renters and their own board’s financial prudence.
Thanks to those factors, ECHO Players have also been able to afford several more extensive renovations throughout the years. Not only did the theatre group makeover the lobby and give the building a facelift, but they’ve upgraded the technical booth and equipment to bring sound and lighting into the digital age.
“Even though we’re amateurs, we want our productions to be as professional as possible,” said Ken McCready, who is currently vice-president of ECHO Player’s board of directors. “We’re very safety-oriented now.”
“We know it’s not perfect,” added McVey. “But we’re proud to have the building.”
