Yellowknife’s only movie theatre, which closed earlier in 2026, is reopening in its old location through a partnership between Event Rentals Yellowknife and the Gallery on 47th Street.
The revamped theatre will be known as The Reel North. It’s likely to reopen early next year.
“We want this to be something that would be modern and feel like it could be anywhere,” said Ainsley Dempsey, one of The Reel North’s four owners, who operates the Gallery on 47 Street.
“We really want to make this a first-class experience for people that they’re excited to go to.”
Dempsey said discussions began in April after Yellowknife’s Capitol Theatre closed and other plans to take over the lease or open a theatre in the same space didn’t work out. (Yellowknife residents had met in early February to discuss the theatre’s closure and explore community-run models to keep it open.)
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When those groups “couldn’t put all the pieces together,” said Dempsey, “we felt like it was within our skill set and we needed to bring it back. We couldn’t just let it sit there empty.”
Dempsey said the Det’on Cho Group of Companies – the economic arm of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, which owns the Precambrian Building and its theatre space – wanted a local company to take over the lease. Meanwhile, she didn’t want her kids to “grow up in a town with no theatre.”
The new operators are Dempsey, her husband Colin, Trevor Wever and his son.
A lease was signed at the beginning of September, Dempsey said. The theatre’s new operators had a final agreement in hand as of September 30.
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Asked how the four would manage a third business, Dempsey said: “It’s one of those things. If you want something done, give it to a busy person.”
Promise to modernize
The Capitol Theatre said earlier this year it was closing after losing money for years and failing to reach terms on a new lease.
Det’on Cho said in a statement at the end of February that it chose to end the lease because of “ongoing financial and contractual challenges that made the existing arrangement unsustainable.”
Dempsey said The Reel North plans to use other revenue streams “that weren’t being fully explored by the previous theatre” like private rentals, parties, events, merchandise, arcade games and “elevated concession options” to offset the high operating cost of a movie theatre.
“If everyone in Yellowknife came to the theatre three times a year, we could hit our targets,” said Dempsey.
“We’re planning to create a space that people want to come to monthly, or even weekly, and that will become part of their special occasions. Every additional ticket sold and income from other revenue streams will put us further ahead and allow us to expand the offerings and events.”
Dempsey hopes Yellowknifers see the new movie theatre as “something that you’re planning your schedule around.”
New movies will remain at its heart, The Reel North’s team said. Special events at the theatre will include the likes of Bollywood weekends or movie marathons.
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“You need to give people a why. It’s not good enough just to throw the movie on and serve them some popcorn, there’s needs to be some experiential stuff behind it,” said Dempsey.
Dempsey said The Reel North is not expected to open to the public until early 2027 as the company completes “crucial renovations” and adds an art-deco old Hollywood theme to the space. Det’on Cho is helping to fund the renovation work.
The new operators also plan a new point of sale system to allow purchases with a debit or credit card, online ticket and seat selection, and merchandise like popcorn buckets.
While renovations are under way, Dempsey said the space will be made available for some key events like the fall’s Yellowknife International Film Festival.
Correction: September 30, 2026 – 17:00 MT. We initially misspelled the last name of Trevor Wever and have amended it.
