Orleans Town Centre Cinema – A Possible Future?

Some east-enders may have noticed changes at the Orleans Town Centre this past week.

The six-screen multiplex that’s been standing there for nearly twenty years is now shut down. Originally planned as the proposed third floor of the expansion plans for the Place d’Orléans Mall of the latter half of the 1980’s, instead it somehow got built as the second floor of a separate building across the street and about a block away down Centrum Boulevard. It was initially owned by Cineplex Odeon and then passed on to Empire Theatres some years ago.

The lease agreement has run out, the place has been stripped to the walls and the “closed for business sign” is now on the marquee until such time as it can be taken down. Empire Theatres has now decamped to Innes Road and a new, digitally-enabled ten-screen complex.

But the infrastructure for a movie complex is still there at Orléans Town Centre, and nearly two decades of service as an entertainment destination for Orleans residents suggests an alternative to shutting the facility for keeps. It needs a bit of money and someone – probably several people – will have to agree with the idea and step up to provide the cash to make it happen.

I’ve heard of other developments regarding the neighbourhood in the wake of the Shenkman Arts Centre’s opening. I’m not sure how they might relate to this subject yet, although some of the residential aspects of the proposal suggest an audience base within walking distance is in the works. Also, Arcturus Property Management, the owners – or managers? – of this particular building will have to be persuaded that there’s something in it for them.

Repertory cinema.

Exactly like the Mayfair and Bytowne Theatres in old Ottawa South and Lowertown respectively, yes, but seeing as we’ve got six screens to play with here, maybe the idea can be taken further.

Perhaps – in addition to second-run and “cult favourite” US films – whoever picks up the lease with the intent of continuing to run a movie house on the second floor might consider devoting a couple of screens to first-run Canadian film – including English, French, and First Nations languages – with the remainder assigned to first-run non-North American features.

It would be something that no one else in the city could offer. The Mayfair and Bytowne have their home neighbourhoods sewn up for the service they’re set up to provide, and the loyalty of those local audiences are well-earned. I’ve been to both, and they deserve their reputations. But they only have so much screen time to spare. Orleans has yet to be served by this branch of cinema, and the old Town Centre complex could fill voids that may not have been recognized as existing up to now.

It’s a thought.