A community formed out of shared need: Life in temporary housing for Syrian refugees

In late winter and spring of 2016, thousands of refugees from Syria and Lebanon arrived in Canada. Many families were placed in temporary housing while the federal government sought out more permanent homes for them.

Toronto Plaza Hotel was one such temporary refuge. Located just north of Toronto on an intersection between two highways, the hotel was once a hip venue that saw the performances of musicians like Duke Ellington and Billy Daniels.

This spring, it housed approximately 550 refugees along with its regular guests.

Producers Craig Desson, Yasmine Hassan and Julia Pagel visited Toronto Plaza Hotel to hear the stories hidden between its walls. They explore a microcosm of temporary housing, a new community formed out of shared need. The producers visited the refugee families in their rooms, joined them at mealtimes, and listened to them talk about the anxieties of starting a new life after escaping from a war-torn country. 

The producers also talk with those who help welcome the newcomers to Canada: representatives of an immigrant services organization, volunteers and hotel staff—all of whom worked hard to see to the wants and needs of refugee families.

Special thanks to Craig Desson, Yasmine Hassan and Julia Pagel. Original theme is composed and performed by Stefan Banjevic.