Northern Ontario travelling drive-in bringing back nostalgia
Drive-in theatres have been a thing of the past in northeastern Ontario, but Sudbury-based travelling company 'Horizon Drive-In' sees potential for the business to become an annual anticipated attraction in the region again.
Recently stopping in Timmins, owner Benjamin MacKenzie said when he operated his business as a COVID-friendly entertainment option, he feels he addressed an entertainment gap in the region, particularly during the pandemic while traditional movie theatres were closed.
"We’re kind of able to offer that outlet for friends to get together again, families to go out, people to kind of reconnect and enjoy entertainment safely," MacKenzie said.
And as COVID-19 restrictions loosen, he said more people have been looking to enjoy a form of entertainment that’s been missing in the northeast for some time.
Many people may not have been to a drive-in in years, MacKenzie said, and permanent drive-ins that operated have been long-closed.
That’s left a desire to enjoy a sense of nostalgia, he said.
"A lot of people who were kind of too scared to kind of come out of their houses before, last year, we’re seeing a lot of new people coming out," MacKenzie said. "Older demographics coming out, who were kind of playing it safe last year, who just wanted to come and kind of relive those nostalgic days."
And he sees an opportunity to bring back that feeling back every summer, as an event that communities can look forward to even after the pandemic ends.
Looking forward to establishing a new northern staple, he is continuing to travel around the region this summer, with more show dates coming in the fall.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
Blind Sask. boy heading to international braille competition hopes to increase accessibility for visually impaired
A Saskatchewan boy who qualified for an international braille competition in Los Angeles next month hopes he can inspire change in his home province.
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.