Capital Campaign2023-09-19T15:20:38+00:00

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TARGET: $1.5 Million

FUNDS RAISED TO DATE – $1,400,000
Campaign Visionary Sponsors

The Project

With the acquisition of the adjacent flower shop, The Kiwanis Club of Forest is undertaking a significant expansion and capital renovation of the historic Kineto Theatre in downtown Forest. This includes:

  1. Main level: state of the art lobby, concession, accessible washrooms, accessible theatre seating, new marquee, community room;
  2. Lower level: industrial kitchen, serving area, unisex washroom, updated and accessible community room.

This project will be a facelift for one of the oldest, continuously operating movie theatres in the world. As Forest Kiwanians have done for the past fifty years, we must continue to improve and enhance this special heritage facility for the benefit of our entire community. The all-in project budget is $1,500,000 which includes the building contract, architect/engineer fees, marquee, kitchen equipment and accessories, donor wall, electronics, permits and licences.

These improvements will make our facility safe and welcoming, effective, efficient and aesthetically pleasing. The Kineto Theatre is considered by people far and wide to be “a jewel” in our community and we believe these needed enhancements will continue to bring people to Forest for years to come. As a point of interest, over the past five years, Kiwanis Club of Forest has donated more than $150,000 throughout the Forest community.

Our facility is more than just a movie theatre. Owned and operated by the Kiwanis Club of Forest it holds a unique and special place in the community. It is a people place that provides movie entertainment throughout the year for families and people of all ages. It is a cultural place that hosts film festivals, concerts, art exhibits, wine and food tastings. It is an educational place that also hosts special educational film presentations and guest speakers for both schools and the community at large. It is a community place that brings people together.

With our exciting plan, our theatre is positioned to move into the future by offering an updated space that will be available through the Kiwanis Club to the entire community. The renovations will ensure our heritage building meets public health and accessibility expectations.

RATIONALE FOR THE NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS:

  • an ever increasing demand for facility use and rentals for a wide variety of events and groups.

  • increase opportunity for youth training, employment and education.

  • enhanced programming such as culinary events in conjunction with special film events.

  • updated public health, safety and accessibility requirements.

  • increased community economic development…. feet in the streets of downtown Forest. There will be no empty storefront!

BECOME A SPONSOR!

The Kineto Theatre fundraising team has developed the following Gift Recognition Plan to ensure that all gifts to the Renovation are acknowledged according to a standard format. Our heritage facility is a community place so it is fitting that the Plan will reflect a cooperative community wide effort.

Please consider contributing to the campaign by downloading and completing the commitment form.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Recognition Levels

FRIEND – $50 – $500
Website and Facebook listing, Thank you letter/ certificate and tax receipt.

SUPPORTER – $501 – $1000
Donor wall, Kineto screen, website & Facebook, Invitation to grand opening, Newspaper ad, Donor appreciation movie, Thank you letter/certificate and tax receipt.

CHAMPION – $1001 – $5000
Donor wall, Kineto screen, website & Facebook, Invitation to grand opening and gala, Newspaper ad, Donor appreciation movie, Thank you letter/certificate and tax receipt.

LEADER – $5,001 – $15,000
Donor wall, Naming opportunity, Cheque presentation and press release, Kineto screen, website & Facebook, Invitation to and recognition at grand opening and gala, Newspaper ad, Donor appreciation movie, Thank you letter/certificate and tax receipt.

PARTNER – $15,001 – $25,000
Donor wall, Naming opportunity, Cheque presentation and press release, Kineto screen, 50 theatre passes, website & Facebook, Invitation to and recognition at grand opening and gala, Newspaper ad, Donor appreciation movie, Thank you letter/certificate and tax receipt.

VISIONARY – $25,001+
Special naming opportunity plus partner recognition items. One time use of theatre for private screening/event.

LEADER

  • Arkona Lioness
  • Ted and Michelle Batty
  • Mary Wade Beaumont
  • Doug & Pam Cook
  • CN Community Fund
  • County of Lambton
  • Tom and Janet Cullen
  • Di Can Incorporated
  • David & Ann Delchario
  • Dave & Karen Delmage
  • Allan and Susan Edwards
  • Betty Fitchett
  • Forest Foodland
  • Forest Legion Branch 176
  • Forest Silver Stick Hockey Association
  • Grand Bend Rotary
  • Ruth Illman
  • Junction Community Church
  • Naveen Kalia
  • Kiwanis Club of Seaway
  • Lambton Film & Food Festival
  • Sheila and Kevin Lock
  • Millburn Electric of Forest Inc
  • Ontario Small Business Loan
  • Optimist Club of Forest
  • Pro Drainage (Paul & Brenda Van Bree)
  • Re/Max Lambton
  • Roelands Plant Farms Inc
  • Royal Oak Odd Fellows Lodge #108
  • Sarnia Community Foundation
  • Sarnia Concrete Products/EMC Ready Mix
  • Sarnia Rotary Club
  • Bill & Joan Shea
  • David & Barbara Smith
  • Sara Spence
  • Toronto Dominion Bank
  • Township of Warwick
  • Watford Rotary Club

NAMING OPPORTUNITIES AND DONATION QUESTIONS

Contact donations@kineto.ca or any Kiwanis Club member for any questions about donations and naming opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is the Kineto Theatre?2021-06-11T15:36:44+00:00

The building was built in 1878 and has operated continuously as a movie theatre since 1917. Kiwanis purchased the theatre in 1977 and with the help of community and club sweat equity, has made many improvements over the years. This includes: new roof, new windows, updated projection room, new digital equipment, new seating, concession upgrades, new marquee, community signage, chair lift to washrooms, handicapped washroom upstairs. Club members dug out the lower level meeting room area by hand many years ago.

 

Why do you need to do this renovation?2021-05-26T16:58:03+00:00

We need to keep improving our heritage theatre facility. The purchase of the adjacent store space ensures that there will not be another vacant storefront on the street. This new space gives the opportunity to create a new lobby and concession area that will have appropriate work and lounge areas. Most significant will be the addition of accessible washrooms on the main level. Our tiny kitchen must meet public health and safety requirements. The community room level needs to be completely accessible and washrooms and lobby concession need updating. These improvements will meet the increasing family and small group demand for rental space for a wide variety of events. The updates will increase our programming potential such as wine and beer tastings, food tastings and culinary demonstrations/events in conjunction with film and concert events. Dinner and a movie events will become doable again. Our theatre is a community place that brings people together and we want our facility to be safe and welcoming for all.

Why are you trying to compete with other community kitchen facilities?2021-05-26T16:58:36+00:00

Our facility can only accommodate small groups . Dinner and a movie which used to be quite popular can seat approximately 60 people. The Kiwanis Club already has a demand for rental space for family special occasion events and especially children’s birthday parties. We cannot allow use of the kitchen in its current state. In 2017 we had 107 organizational and 57 family events in the theatre itself as well as 59 rentals for the community room. The community already uses our facility but we want to improve their experience.

I already donate to community projects. Why donate to this one?2021-05-26T16:47:27+00:00

Our facility is a community place. It provides entertainment for all ages throughout the year. It is a cultural place that hosts film festivals, art exhibits, concerts, special tasting events. It is an educational place that hosts educational film presentations and guest speakers for schools and for the community. It is a meeting place for our partners, for small groups and for families. Community groups can advertise events for free on our digital community bulletin board. We also believe that we contribute to the community economic well being as we bring people to Forest and area. We believe we have a unique and special place that is available and we work each year to build on things that can appeal to a wide range of people. We take pride in the theatre and we believe that the community does as well and will see the value in making these improvements.

Why do you need to fund-raise?2021-05-26T16:48:13+00:00

This is a major project for the Kiwanis Club. We must continue to operate the theatre and all the expenses that go along with maintaining a heritage building, pay our student concession employees, manage ongoing repairs, keep reserve funds for our projection equipment repairs and necessary upgrades. While the club will be committing a designated amount to the project and club members are submitting grant applications, we still must reach out to the community.

What do you anticipate being able to do as a result of renovations?2021-05-26T16:48:47+00:00

Our building will meet health and safety and accessibility requirements which is the primary need for the improvements. We will be able to increase our programming and add to events we already conduct. We will be able to offer” dinner and a movie” once again. We will be able to add to culinary events to link with travel film features, to our film festival events. Ethnic food demonstrations and activities will be possible. The renovations will better meet the needs of families and small groups who already rent our space but are limited in the use of kitchen facilities. Finally, we will have a state of the art expanded and accessible lobby, efficient and functional concession area, main floor accessible washroom and more accessible theatre seating.

How much is the projected cost?2021-05-26T16:49:17+00:00

The project budget is $1,500,000.00 all-in which includes the building contract, architect/engineer fees, marquee, kitchen equipment and accessories, donor wall, electronics, permits and licences. Our fundraising team has done an amazing job thus far but we are still a significant distance from the new goal as the tendered project ended up being almost double our initial expectations due to many unforeseen considerations (mainly due to the age of the building) which were not factored into the original scope.

How will you raise this much money?2022-02-23T23:52:05+00:00

Thanks to generous community donors, and to grants from a variety of sources, we have raised $1,135,000.00 . We have secured a LIBRO loan to complete the project and are thankful for that support as well. The capital campaign will continue until December 31, 2022. Donations can be made online and by mail. To donate online or via mail, please click on the buttons below. Please note, for mail in donations, all cheques must be made out to the Forest Community Foundation for tax receipt purposes.

 

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