Two auditoriums at Cinema City Movies 12 in northeast Edmonton have been closed while officials investigate reports of bed bugs.
A spokesperson with Cineplex, which owns the theatre, tells Global News auditoriums four and five were closed Friday night.
“A couple of guests spoke with our theatre manager yesterday evening to advise of an incident that occurred in the theatre,” Pat Marshall, vice-president of Communications and Investor Relations with Cineplex Entertainment, said. “We always take the safety and security of our guests very seriously, so we immediately closed the theatre auditorium and brought in third party experts to investigate,” Marshall added.
She went on to say that the investigation did not “discover any activity in the auditoriums but in an abundance of caution we decided to close the auditoriums, keep them closed over the weekend and treat it regardless.”
The complex was open Saturday but the auditoriums under investigation remained closed while theatre officials, along with an exterminator, investigated.
“We did investigate the entire complex, we didn’t find any activity in any auditorium – the ones that the guests commented on or otherwise,” Marshall said.
Marshall was aware of a video circulating on social media that shows a bed bug crawling on a movie theatre seat. She said the person who posted the video also made the complaint.
“What we did do was have a face to face conversation with the guest. They advised us of the situation and we immediately responded,” Marshall said.
The auditoriums were shut down immediately after they were advised by the guests.
Marshall says Cineplex has a regular ongoing maintenance program in all of its theatres.
“This is something I think that is rumoured to happen in theatres around the world but the actual frequency of it is very small and certainly I can tell you it is virtually non existent with us,” she said.
The complex has a total 12 auditoriums and features films at a discounted price.
The closed auditoriums will reopen Monday.
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