About Us

Thanks for stopping by our website.  We are The Salmar Community Association, proud owner and operator of the Salmar Grand Cinemas and the historic Salmar Classic Theatre.

We are truly one of the most unique movie entertainment organizations you’ll find.  In fact, we may be the ONLY non-profit group in North America to operate a first-run multiplex! 

Way back in the late 1940’s, a dedicated bunch of movie nuts bought the old Rex Theatre here in Salmon Arm, to be able to donate the business profits to build a memorial arena honouring the war veterans. Wanting to bring better entertainment value to the community, in 1949 we built the brand new Salmar Theatre (now known as the Classic). Today, the Classic is home to an outstanding variety of entertainment, from new and off-release movies, concerts, to Film Society offerings from around the world.  Using our state-of-the-art DVD projector, we also bring you classics from yesteryear, and live broadcasts from The Metropolitan Opera in New York.  With what amounts to a 25-foot-wide BIG screen TV, the possibilities are endless!

In 1997, we built The Salmar Grand Cinemas, a great four-plex which today brings you the best in first-run Hollywood movies.  In the next few years, we plan to add two more screens to our fine theatre, to bring you more options for movie enjoyment.

 All along, we have put 100% of our profits back into theatre improvements and into the community.  We built the new Legion building across from the Grand, and we’ve given out hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations to local people and groups to support healthcare, education, sports, and the arts.  We’ve helped build playgrounds, fountains, trails, and we’ve helped build better futures for young people through scholarships.

 And you too can help us make a difference.  Join our membership for $25 (good for your lifetime), vote at our AGM each year, and perhaps even become a director!

Thanks for taking the time to learn a little more about who we are, and why we’re here.  Come see a movie, and as always, I encourage you to enjoy the show!

- Shawn T. Greek, General Manager