This will be NorthRonces.com’s initial post on the first community meeting to Save the Revue which was held on June 8th. Part two will discuss the the heated issue of historical designation and part three will address a few options that could keep the Revue operating as a cinema.

Thursday night the 2nd floor teacher’s lounge at Howard Public School was packed with local area residents committed to putting their ideas, their time, and, in some cases, even their money, toward keeping the Revue Cinema operating as a neighbourhood repertory cinema—what appeared to be a unanimous goal.

The meeting, organized by Susan Flanagan and moderated by Mark Ellwood, was packed and late comers had to find room on the floor. Councillor Sylvia Watson, a representative of Peggy Nash, and future NDP candidate for the riding, Reverend Sheri Dinovo, attended along with media outlets The Globe & Mail, CityTV, The Village Gleaner and The National Post. Obviously, interest around this issue is quite high.

Perhaps most surprisingly, all three of the current owners—Chris, Kate and Mark McQuillan—were on hand and did a commendable job expressing their respect for the neighbourhood cinema idea and their desire to work with the Roncesvalles community in finding either a tenant or an owner for the building who will continue to operate it as a rep cinema. (next page…)