Lido Theatre officially changes hands as new local owners take over

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — After 19 years, Fort St. John’s Lido Theatre has changed hands.

Brian Kirschner, the now-former owner of the Lido, appeared on the October 24th episode of This Week in the Peace to discuss its history and the reason behind the sale.

Kirschner said talks about selling the theatre began with his wife Cindy earlier this year.

“We had put it up for sale, not quite the traditional ‘for-sale sign on the front of the building’ kind of thing, but just let it leak out as to what we were wanting to do and move on, and just see where it landed,” he said.

Kirschner, who first moved to Fort St. John in the 1960s because of his father’s job, said the theatre was an iconic part of his childhood growing up in the city.

“Back in the day, there was only so many things to do in Fort St. John,” he said. “In the summer you’d watch ballgames, or in the wintertime you’d watch hockey, and then there’s the [Lido] movie theatre.”

Kirschner purchased the theatre in 2006, after it had been closed for several years. He said it was difficult at the time to get funding for renovations and changes, and many people were skeptical as to whether it could be successful.

“Most people, when they talk about the beginning of the Lido [under my ownership], they all say, ‘I thought for sure, what an idiot, you’re going to lose your ass,’” he explained. “And I never even thought about that, it was just head-down, ass-up, do what you’ve gotta do, roll up your sleeves.”

Kirschner says this has been an “interesting time” for himself and his wife, who he wasn’t married to yet at the time he came to own the Lido.

“We’ve never known each other without this thing called the Lido,” he said. “It’s something we’ve shared, and over the last 10 years, she has retired from [the Fort St. John Association for Community Living] and now she’s a very integral part of operating the Lido.”

The theatre is now owned by Skyler Rowsell and his wife Jacqualyn. 

Rowsell was interviewed on 100.1 Moose FM — a station owned by Energeticcity.ca’s parent company Moose Media — on Wednesday, October 22nd about the change.

He said he decided to buy the business because he feels there’s something special about the Lido after working there alongside Kirschner for roughly four years.

“Everybody’s interested in the Lido, but it’s a big jump to make that leap and really dive into [owning] it,” Rowsell said. “In my mind, it’s kind of a legendary Fort St. John institution, how do you pay homage to that and move forward?”

Rowsell felt like he was the right fit to take over ownership in part because of his experience working behind the scenes at the theatre and his background as a musician and sound technician.

“So far, as we’ve been letting out the worst-kept-secret of Fort St. John in recent memory, it’s been a lot of positive affirmations. People are excited for us, and it feels right.”

Rowsell says he and Kirschner, alongside their wives, are working together to ensure the ownership transition is as smooth as possible.

To view either the full interview with Kirschner or Rowsell, look below.