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shelter

An immigrant story that helped shape a city

A RON CHAPMAN FILM

 
 
 

Watch the Shelter Documentary Trailer

About the documentary

Fleeing religious persecution, resilient Jewish immigrants arrive in Toronto and begin building affordable, quality housing in a growing metropolis.

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Toronto—voted one of the top 5 most liveable cities in the world and renowned for its vibrant cultural diversity—was forever changed for the better when a group of resilient Jewish immigrants came to Canada in the first half of the 20th century. Shelter is the inspirational story of how these brave Jewish immigrants survived religious persecution in their homelands to build wildly successful real estate and land development businesses and help shape a growing metropolis by making it a refuge for all newcomers to Toronto.

Forced into entrepreneurship by prejudice and circumstance, these new Torontonians started their businesses by buying land, building homes and then reinvesting in the process. But they had a vision; they saw in the post WWII real estate boom the need for affordable, quality, rental housing and instinctively knew that high-rise apartments were the answer. From 1952 to 1975, their companies, renowned and still active developers, built over 500,000 apartment rental units across all areas of the city, winning awards and accolades and providing shelter for countless newcomers. They knew that a healthy city provided shelter for all. During that time the city grew from 1 million to 2 million people.

Media Inquiries: ingrid@gat.ca

Shelter Quotes

“Shelter makes good use of archival footage, photos and dramatic recreations.”

— Real Estate Magazine

“Shelter is an incredible film… there is so much detail that’s put onto the backstories of these individuals that is so important historically for Canadians to know.”

— CTV National News

“Director Ron Chapman uses a compelling mix of stunning recreations, archival footage and photographs, and interviews with these groundbreakers and their families to tell this inspiring piece of the city’s history.”

— Kultura Collective

Shelter: a powerful documentary that tells an astonishing story

— The Canadian Jewish Newsletter

“This is a film that is deserving of everyone’s attention”

— Global News

“Shelter — a fascinating history of Holocaust survivors and Jewish refugees who forged that post-War transformation.”

— Original Cin

“Worth the time for anyone wanting to know more about some of the forces that have shaped the city we live in today.”

— Urban Toronto


“It is a must-watch in understanding the way Toronto has been shaped by Jewish communities”

— POV Magazine

“Director Ron Chapman uses a compelling mix of stunning recreations, archival footage, and photographs, and interviews with these groundbreakers and their families to tell this inspiring piece of the city’s history.”

— Storeys

Shelter Film Interviewees

Ron Chapman’s Shelter brings together a compelling mix of first person stories–some never heard, and some never spoken until now.  Visually supported by enhanced archival footage and photos, and told with stunning recreations, the Canadian documentary was shot on location across two continents, tracing these Jewish immigrants’ journey from Eastern Europe to North America, from Dachau to Toronto, and filmed with an international cast and crew from both continents. The film’s score, composed by award-winning and internationally renowned Canadian music legend, Jack Lenz, has been acknowledged as an exceptional work, and has been licensed and will be released worldwide by Sony Classical to coincide with the world premiere.

 
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Shelter is a Canadian documentary features exclusive interviews with celebrated visionary businessmen and their families, including: Sam Brown (The Brown Group), John H. (Jack) Daniels (The Daniels Corp.), Mendel Tenenbaum (The Tenen Group); Shirley Diamond (wife of the late Eph Diamond, Founding Partner and Chairman, Cadillac Fairview Corp); Anne Weinbaum (wife of the late Jack Weinbaum, W. J. Realty & Gonte Construction, now the Preston Group); and David and Carey Green (sons of Al and Harold Green, Greenwin group)  along with the Cogan, Green, Hofstedter, Krehm, Merkur, Minz, Ross, and Rubinstein families. The film also connects with Graeme Stewart, Director, The Centre for Urban Growth and Renewal and Derek Lobo, CEO, SVN Rock Advisors Inc.

In recognition and memory:
The director wishes to specially acknowledge Sam Brown, Lawrence Cogan, and Anne Weinbaum, who generously told their stories and participated in the filming of Shelter; and for his father Harold Chapman, all of whom unfortunately passed away before the release of the film.

News

Press Releases

Media Mentions

 

Impact

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In xenophobic and trying times, we need stories of resilience and hope more than ever. Shelter can make a lasting impact in schools, communities, places of work and worship; inspiring, engaging and educating diverse audiences. Find out more about our plans for Shelter Companion Educational Resources and about hosting educational and community screenings in Canada.
Email info@shelterfilmeducation.com

Director's Statement

I was compelled to tell these important and impactful stories of a group of inspiring individuals; people who include some of the last living Holocaust survivors and who, against all odds, achieved the impossible. Their lives and the families they raised in Toronto have contributed greatly to the growth and culture of this unique city, as immigrants have and continue to contribute to the growth and shaping of cities throughout the world. Their legacy is a testament to the benefits of successful immigration–a universal message especially critical in light of the rising xenophobia of our times.

- Ron Chapman, Director

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Shelter Quotes

“There was such a great need for housing but especially affordable housing. Many, many immigrant families lived in these buildings. Culture is very important anywhere in the city. And it’s very meaningful when you think; this was just a vacant lot. Our buildings serve a purpose for so many people and it’s very rewarding.”

- John H. (Jack) Daniels

“I feel that I had the best life, I also think I had the worst life. I will never, ever, ever forget.”

- Mendel Tenenbaum, Auschwitz Survivor

“Eph was a builder because he couldn’t get a job as an engineer. In those days, our people weren’t very welcome in that field.”

- Shirley Diamond

“Rental apartments gave my family shelter from the storm. Where would all our immigrants have lived if these apartments wouldn’t have been built? This was a great service to this country, building these rental apartments.”

- Derek Lobo, CEO, SVN Rock Advisors Inc.

“They put their own personalities into the buildings. There were works of love, works of art in addition to works of business.”

- Graeme Stewart, Founding Director, Centre for Urban Growth and Renewal

“They put their own personalities into the buildings. There were works of love, works of art in addition to works of business.”

“There was major growth in Toronto after the world war of about 1 million people. How do you house one million people?”

“When I came to Toronto there were no big buildings. There was absolutely nothing.”

 

Director: Ron Chapman | Executive Producer: Mark Kenney | Producers: Ron Chapman, Phyllis Ellis & Colette Johnson-Vosberg | Cinematographer: Henry Less | Editor: Eugene Weis | Music: Jack Lenz | Writer: Phyllis Ellis | Story: Ron Chapman | Produced by: Chapman Productions | In association with: Rogers Media | With the participation of: Rogers Documentary Fund | Soundtrack licensed by: Sony Classical

 
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© CHAPMAN PRODUCTIONS

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