From The Pas to Pincher Creek's Fox Theatre: A Harry Potter Odyssey

Caitlin Henderson and Jenn Cook

C. Davis photo

Toni Lucas - How far would you travel to see the midnight showing of Harry Potter? For Caitlin Henderson and her family the answer is 1336 kilometres, all the way from The Pas in Northern Manitoba.
Jenn Cook, General Manager of the Opasquia Times, kept a few magical moves to herself. Her family of four are huge Harry Potter fans,and her daughter Caitlin was wanted to go to the midnight showing to celebrate the opening night, coincidentally scheduled on her birthday.  Caitlin was determined she would be entering the theater at the age of 16 and leaving it at 17, the age span that Harry Potter starts and carries out the 7th book.



Staying in Lethbridge where there was no midnight showing, the family had traveled to attend Jenny's sisters wedding.  The wedding would be taking place during the weekend and, although a high family priority, it seemed to ruin the chances for Caitlin's long-nurtured plans.  It appeared that the only option for a midnight showing was to drive 2.5 hours from Lethbridge to Calgary.  Mom Jenn told Caitlin that was out of the question when Caitlin proposed it, much to the teenagers consternation. Instead, they could attend the showing in Lethbridge during regular show times on Friday, and visit family in Pincher Creek area for Thursday evening.

What Jenn kept secret was plans to pick up the girls' cousin and go to the Fox Theatre in Pincher Creek for the Midnight showing.  Fox Owner/Manager Greg Imeson accepted reservations for the family on Monday.  Caitlin's sister hid her "time changer" necklace before they went for the drive, and it was ceremoniously handed over to Caitlin before she went into the theatre. Jenn thanks Imeson and Fox Theatre for helping to make the day such a succesful one for her family.
Jenn joked as she stood by her daughter in the lobby  "If the time changer worked, you could change what you said about me this week."  Keeping everything a secret for a week, thwarting her determined daughters ingenuity, and still making her wish come true took some real magic on Jenny's part.
A happy Harry Potter ending was had by all.