The Fermanian family, owners of the Cinéma Pine in Sainte-Adèle, have been making their audience dream, laugh and cry for almost 75 years. Le Pine is the oldest independent cinema in Quebec that has retained the same address over the years.
To highlight this feat, the journalist Stéphane Desjardins, economic columnist for the “Journal de Montréal”, a great lover of Laurentians and cinema, has just signed the book “The Fermanian family – The history of the Sainte-Adèle Pine Cinema” which traces the adventure of this family.
The Fermanians came to Canada penniless in 1925 to flee the Armenian Genocide. The family settled in Sainte-Adèle and opened a fruit and vegetable store there after doing a few jobs in Montreal.
PHOTO COUR TESY / Pine Cinema
“My father Phil was a huge fan of photography and cinema, but my mother Aurore was his biggest inspiration. One day she said to him: “If you want to marry me, you have to build your cinema,” tells us her son Tom Fermanian, the current owner, who now shares management of the cinema with his son Perry.
With that, the love contract was closed: in 1948 the pine cinema opened its doors. “Back then, until about 1964, we showed three different programs every week. There were cinemas in almost every village in the north. Nothing with today. North of Saint-Jérôme we continue to hold the position,” Tom told us.
Mr. Fermanian was steeped in this cinematic universe from an early age. “I ran the business on my own when I was 14,” he says.
PHOTO COUR TESY / Pine Cinema
For his part, the author of the book, Stéphane Desjardins, mentions that “Tom is a true encyclopedia of cinema”.
His son Perry – who cannot be outdone, he began moving into his father’s entourage at the age of 13 – adds: “He can tell you all the actors and the duration of each of the films he has presented .
Of course, the world of cinema has changed a lot and it’s important to adapt. “We have no choice but to follow the dance in this profession,” states Tom Fermanian.
Perry adds, “Sometimes it’s hundreds of thousands of dollars at stake like this digital revolution that’s taken over our screens. Today we are talking about lasers, but that remains to be seen,” adds the son.
Daniel Deslauriers / QMI AGENCY
Tom Fermanian does not hide his pride in having succeeded his father and seeing his descendants do the same. “It gives me great satisfaction to know that there will be a third generation of Fermanians who will continue our work,” he says.
Perry speaks of a “nice challenge” and doesn’t want to disappoint. “People sometimes wonder if the Pine is profitable. Absolutely, we work hard to provide great programs that our market appreciates. It requires a lot of work and dedication on our part.”
Daniel Deslauriers / QMI AGENCY
Pine’s management says it has adapted to the pandemic. “We’ve been creative in our programming and activities to remind our customers that we’re still here,” says Perry Fermanian.
“The film industry is over 100 years old and its future is very bright with huge potential,” said Perry. I know that cinema has a future in theaters as long as we are offered content, he believes. As long as there are good stories to tell, cinema will stay.”