Historic theatre in Grand Forks damaged by floods

It's one of the oldest theatres in Western Canada, and last week, it was hit by the flooding in the WestKootenay region of B.C.

Maureen Paquet and her husband Marius have owned and run the Gem Theatre in Grand Forksfor the past 30 years and nowthey're assessing the damage and trying to figure out their next steps.

The theatre was built in 1913 and held the name Empress until it was renamed the Gem in the 1950s.

The couple praise their customers and feel that they're a special part of the community.

"According to everybody else, it is a big part of Grand Forks We always said we do have the best patrons anywhere we don't even need clean up staff.That's how fabulous our patrons are," Paquet told Daybreak South's Chris Walker.

Paquet said they offer a little bit of something for everyone and regularly held events at the space like live music, contests and giveaways.

Despite their efforts to prevent damage with sandbags at the entrance to the theatre, the water started pouring in Thursday from the city sewer lines and flooded their basement and theatre seating area.

All 280 of the old cast iron and steel seats will need to be replaced along with the carpeting, but they're still waiting for news on the full extent of the damage.

"There is hope. We're not dead and gone," she said.

She said that they're ready to retire and pass the Gem onto new, younger owners but are committed to cleaning up the beloved community hub.

"It would take somebody with a little vision and excitement for it, but if we were younger, we'd go ahead and proceed with that.

"We're hoping that we can just clean up, sit back and relaxand watch somebody else do it."

With some help from the community to unscrew and move the old seats, Paquetsays she'soptimistic that they'll be open again soon.

To hear the full interview listen to media below:

With files from Daybreak South