OTTAWA -- After more than 70 years of showing films to Ottawa audiences, the curtain is set to fall at the Bytowne Cinema for the final time.
In a statement, ByTowne owner Bruce White announced the cinema will be closing on Dec. 31, citing fewer customers and fewer films available during the COVID-19 pandemic. "The cinema has been losing money every day since the pandemic hit.
Even when we've been allowed to be open, audiences are dramatically smaller," said White. "The ByTowne has a fantastic customer base, but many ByTowners just aren’t coming these days.
And I don't blame them: our staff have done an amazing job with COVID protocols that keep customers as safe as possible, but everyone's risk assessment is personal, and specific to