RURAL RENAISSANCE: How Canada’s Oldest Town Reinvented Itself

In 1975 the King's Theatre in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, was a dump - there is no other way to say it. BUT it didn’t stand out because it matched all the other shabby and dilapidated buildings in the downtown business district of the Town of Annapolis Royal. The restoration of the Theatre in the early 1980s acted as a catalyst in the economic revitalization of Annapolis Royal, and now that story is being told! This documentary captures the story of the Annapolis Royal Development Commission and its impactful projects that now, 40 years later, are still the backbone of the community. Spearheaded by Jane Nicholson and AIRO, with the support of filmmaker Andrew Tolson and researcher Wilfred Allan, what started out as a short video for the community has become an hour-long documentary to show what is truly possible when a community comes together.

Community and economic development in rural Nova Scotia is a long process. This documentary shares the impact of a project begun over 40 years ago and shows how the community continues to benefit from those efforts today. The documentary also acts as a touchpoint for future generations to consider when they look back 40 years from now.

Spoiler alert - the King's Theatre has remained a beautiful and integral part of the community! It features incredible performances and has been lovingly maintained by a dedicated team of staff and volunteers over the years. It is definitely no longer a dump!

For more information on AIRO visit:
https://www.ruralopportunity.com

For more information on filmmaker, Andrew Tolson, visit:
https://www.andrewtolson.com

For more information on the Town of Annapolis Royal visit:
https://annapolisroyal.com

For more information on King's Theatre visit:
https://www.kingstheatre.ca