Two youths have been arrested in connection to an incident of vandalism during a pride event at the Empress Theatre in Fort Macleod on August 26, 2023. (Photo: Jewhyte | Dreamstime.com)

By David Opinko

RCMP investigating vandalism to Fort Macleod’s Empress Theatre during drag event

Aug 28, 2023 | 11:35 AM

FORT MACLEOD, AB – The Fort Macleod RCMP said it has arrested two youths who allegedly vandalized the town’s theatre.

During the Fort Macleod PRIDE event on Saturday, August 26, 2023, officers were called to the Empress Theatre at approximately 8:30 p.m.

Empress Theatre board chair Denise Joel said the festivities included a drag show at the theatre Saturday evening. She told LNN that she was sitting in the theatre, and about 10 minutes into the show, everyone could smell something “quite noxious.”

Joel stated that a group of youths seated near the back of the theatre had a jar of what the RCMP said was Fisher and Marten lure.

“It’s a black liquid that was in a glass container, and while they were sitting in the row, they were leaking it onto the floor, then got up, continued to leak it onto the carpet and the curtain at the back of the theatre. As they were leaving, they smashed the entire contents of it onto the floor in the foyer,” said Joel.

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The Empress Theatre is temporarily closed and will remain so until an adjustor can determine the exact damages.

“It’s incredibly disheartening to hear what happened, just simply because this is a historic building and it means a lot to southern Alberta and the people of Fort Macleod, and to have it defaced like that is really just very sad actually,” said Joel.

She explained, “This is a 112-year-old floor and it’s had something leaked into it, so we don’t know what kind of damage it caused.”

Joel said there was an increased police presence in the areas where the pride festivities were taking place due to backlash.

The RCMP said in a news release that two youths were arrested, who cannot be named due to provisions under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

The investigation by the RCMP is ongoing.