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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, November 14, 2014 | 8 (MJHPTZY\JJPQ^^JWX Christmas classics offered in conjunction with Santa Parade continued from p.7 end of his rope as his business is threatened. "It was a sad weekend. I had devoted 14 But the community pitches in to save the day. His friend Sam Wainright loans enough years of my life to making this work. It was a money to keep him in business. labour of love." Browse flyers from your favourite national and local retailers "We had done a lot for this community. We Then Knoll thought of his favourite movie. In It's A Wonderful Life, after years of hard work support charities, have hired kids for their firstfrom work experience. We'veand had weddings, Browse your favourite national local retailers and helping others, George Bailey is at the flyers AND SAVE! (MJHPTZY\JJPQ^^JWX AND SAVE! (MJHPTZY\JJPQ^^JWX (MJHPTZY\JJPQ^^JWX Browse flyers from your favourite national and local retailers (MJHPTZY\JJPQ^^JWX Browse flyers from your favourite national and local retailers Browse flyers from your favourite national and local retailers AND AND SAVE! AND SAVE! SAVE! Visit Visit flyers. coupons. deals. savings tips. flyers. coupons. deals. savings tips. Visit birthdays, retirements," Knoll said. "I sent a letter to about 4,000 people telling them of our situation. Then I went to bed." Knoll woke up to approximately 75 emails from people asking how they could help and pledging money. Donations ranged from $10-$5,000. Some were loans and others were outright contributions. One family gave $2,000 because all of their children had worked at the cinema. "We needed $50,000 to survive, to build a business plan and be ready to even go to an investor. We raised $51,000," Knoll said. "It wasn't only the money. It was people saying `I had my first date there' or `You helped us raise money.' It proved that people valued what we do here." Knoll met with four prospective investors and one remained -- David Jenkins. "He was our Sam Wainright," said Knoll. One year later, Film.ca is operating with new seats, new carpeting and is fully digital. It offers first-run films at a discounted price. "I saw something really good here. The family atmosphere, great staff and a cheaper alternative. But it wasn't good enough," said Jenkins, who is a former executive with Scotia McLeod. "We had to keep the character of what we had, but needed to be fresh and new." Knoll had worked in movie theatres since he was 13 years old until he left to pursue politics. In the late 1990s, he took his family to see a movie at the Silver City in Mississauga. He was amazed at the total bill and decided he wanted to give families an alternative. He opened theatres in Oakville, Mississauga and Burlington. He eventually closed the Oakville and Mississauga locations. A while later, he had the opportunity to take over the current Speers Road location, an old theatre that had become a church. He renovated it and opened Dec. 30, 2005. In 2012, when film studios started to move to digital cinema. He closed the second-run theatre in Burlington. But Knoll says the future is bright. "We are relieved and looking to the future. If I didn't love Oakville before -- and I did. I can't explain the feeling of having the community rally around you." Film.ca is continuing to run events like Flicks for Funds, where schools, teams or charities can bring supporters to see movies and the cinema donates back a percentage to the cause. In conjunction with Santa Parade It also donates popcorn for special events, passes for charity auctions and runs outdoor movie screenings for charities. After the Oakville Santa Claus Parade tomorrow (Saturday), Film.ca will show A Christmas Story and Home Alone. Admission is free with a food or toy donation to charity. A fusion of JApAnese & Chinese Cuisine in the heArt of oAkville! flyers. coupons. deals. savings tips. Visit Visit coupons. deals. savings tips. flyers. flyers. coupons. deals. savings tips. ORDER THE AUGUST 8 "BIG BOAT" fOR yOUR HOliDAy PARTy! Dine in for All You cAn eAt lunCh or Dinner www.August8.cA 7 DAYs A week 4 Locations to serve you better! oAkville 280 north service road W. @ Dorval BurlinGton 834 Brant Street We Do tAkeout! hAMilton 1 Wilson Street stoneY Creek 835 Paramount Drive