This has perhaps been the roughest time in the past century for the Canadian cinema industry.

In mid-March, Cineplex temporarily shut down all of its theatres in response to COVID-19.

In mid-March, the Vancity Theatre, Rio, and Cinematheque also postponed all screenings.

Then just this week, Cineplex announced that its Park & Tilford complex in North Vancouver is permanently closing.

But one independent Vancouver theatre soldiered on. The Dunbar (4555 Dunbar Street), owned by businessman Ken Charko, continued serving fresh popcorn and selling other treats through the pandemic.

“What I'm trying to do is I'm trying to stay open long enough to give my staff a cheque,” Charko told the Georgia Straight in March.

Charko was hoping for some big box-office returns with the new James Bond film, No Time to Die.

Unfortunately, the Daniel Craig thriller was one of the first big releases to be put on ice over the coronavirus.

The poster, however, still hangs outside the Dunbar—and as its owner has demonstrated, this is indeed no time for his theatre to die.

If you're in the mood to save a neighbourhood movie house, you can always go to the Dunbar Theatre's GoFundMe page. 

Either that, or drop by the theatre from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and from 2 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on weekends and load up on some popcorn.