It was a popular gathering place in Fort Coulonge, Quebec. for nearly 70 years.

Frank Doyle remembers.

“Dad decided to open the theater after showing movies in town halls, not only in Fort Coulonge, but also in other small towns in the Pontiac,” Doyle said.

“In 1953 he opened the Lyn Theater, named after my sister Lyn.”

“It was very, very popular at the time.”

The Doyles eventually sold the theater and about nine years ago the Pontiac’s only movie theater closed.

Enter Jane Toller.

As a young girl, Toller spent her summers at Fort Coulonge. She is a descendant of the Bryson family who started white pine forestry in the Pontiac and Lumberman’s Bank, which later became Scotiabank.

“I wondered if everyone had a very special family like mine and I knew the answer was ‘no’. So, as the saying goes, you have to know where you’re from to know where the we’re going,” Toller said.

Toller, a former candidate for mayor of Toronto and now reeve of the Pontiac, eventually returned to the area and decided to stay.

“In 2016 I realized that this should become my permanent home,” she said.

Jane Toller walks down Main Street in Fort Coulonge, Quebec. (Joel Haslam/CTV News Ottawa)Toller bought the family home, which also serves as the Spruceholme Inn. She opened a restaurant using beams from her great-great-grandfather’s hay barn and fashioned a 400-person convention center for events. She also owns a local clothing store.

“All of these things are designed to move the Pontiac forward, create jobs and bring more people here,” she said.

That’s why Toller made the 135-seat cinema his next purchase.

“It’s a cultural center and a lot of people seem excited to see it reopen,” Toller said.

“There are a lot of memories and there are a lot of young children who have never had the chance to experience this, until now.”

Toller made extensive renovations to the tired space. She built a stage that can also be used for live theater. She purchased a state-of-the-art digital projector and sound system.

Even the popcorn is made using Doyle’s proven family recipe.

And Toller is making sure his Fort Coulonge moviegoers will always have access to the latest Hollywood releases.

“I’m very proud of the fact that this is a first-run theater, so when a new movie comes out in Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto, it will also come out in Fort Coulonge,” she said with a smile.

The theater and Jane’s efforts to breathe new life into this community are receiving rave reviews.

Patrons pack the restored Cinema Lyn movie theater to enjoy a screening of Top Gun: Maverick. (Joel Haslam/CTV News Ottawa)

Andre Gervais drove from Pembroke to watch “Top Gun: Maverick.”

“It’s so good for the city,” said Gervais.

“I think it’s pretty important for young people here to experience what we did when we were younger,” he said.

“I moved for 40 years and retired here,” said Harvey Levesque. “My wife is a movie buff, so it’s perfect for us,” he laughed.

The Lyn cinema is open from Friday to Monday and will operate from May to the end of October. It may open to show Christmas films in December.

Like movies on the big screen, the story unfolding in this community is thrilling to watch.

“When the lights come on, it’s a sign of life,” Toller said. “It tells people that something is happening in Fort Coulonge.