One of Fort Macleod’s most iconic pieces is charting a new direction for the future.
Fort Macleod council learned more last week about plans for the Empress Theatre.
Empress Theatre director Hunter Gates, society president Jackie Nelson and past-president Denise Joel appeared as a delegation at council’s Jan. 26 meeting at the G.R. Davis Administration Building.
Nelson told council the presentation was about the coming year at the Empress.
“We’ve got some exciting things coming up,” Nelson said.
Nelson turned the presentation over the Gates, who had a slide show supplemented by her commentary.
“The Empress has always been more than a theatre,” Gates told council. “It’s one of the most iconic spaces in Alberta.”
Gates said the theatre is a gathering space — for audiences, families and creators.
The theatre is host to concerts, films, live performances and community events.
“Our success comes from serving both community needs, and artistic expression,” Gates said.
In 2025 the Empress re-established core programs, expanded its audience and launched new initiatives, Gates said.
A half million dollar renovation that saw a new floor and refurbished seating installed in the theatre, and the women’s washroom upgraded and expanded.
The popular drama camp returned in the summer, staged outdoors while the theatre was renovated.
A new one-act play festival was staged, five performances took place during the recent holiday season, the 2025-’26 Center Stage Series launched.
“These programs remain the backbone of our Empress,” Gates said. “They’re successful, they’re sustainable, and they’re deeply valued.”
Those core pieces will be strengthened as the Empress Theatre moves forward.
“Our goal is to evolve the Empress into an even more dynamic stage and an asset to our town,” Gates said. “This means increasing accessibility, growing arts education and adding flexible cultural programming that benefits the entire community and the region.”
The Empress Theatre plans to partner with the Fort Museum to highlight the theatre through artifacts, stories and exhibits to create a deeper heritage experience for residents and visitors.
Gates said the plan is also to expand the one-act festival, have more in-house theatre productions and encourage school and community theatre workshops.
Those workshops will cover topics such as technical theatre, acting, directing, playwriting, and arts administration with guest artists and instructors.
“These workshops support skill building across the community,” Gates told council. “From students dreaming of a career, to professionals looking to refine their practice, to adults trying something new. This also positions the Empress as a regional hub for training.”
Gates said the theatre will honour Indigenous culture through thoughtful programming for storytelling, art, music and dance.
Expanded use of the theatre and the Green Room is planned in the form of art classes, workshops, festivals, after school programs, sports streaming events, video gaming nights, costumed film festivals and classic film festivals.
Those programs will help the theatre generate more revenue and brining new people into the building.
“The Empress strengthens the local economy and enhances the quality of life,” Gates said.
Expanded programing and more events will bring to town more people, who will shop in local stores and eat in Fort Macleod’s restaurants.
“The arts are an economic engine, and the Empress is a key driver,” Gates said.
Gates said the Empress Theatre Society looks forward to continuing its partnership with the Town of Fort Macleod with the theatre as a central cultural, educational and economic asset.
“We are proud of where the Empress has been, and even more excited about where it’s going,” Gates said.
