A new documentary titled “Home,” co-created by Degrassi co-creator Linda Schuyler, is set to premiere on TVO as it examines the Brookside encampment in Cobourg, Ont.
The Story
A new documentary titled “Home,” co-created by filmmaker and producer Linda Schuyler, is set to premiere on TVO on Saturday, coinciding with World Homeless Day.
The film examines an encampment that formed on the lawn in front of Brookside, a vacant provincial property in Cobourg, Ont. The property had previously been home to Cobourg’s elite and later became a youth detention centre.
Schuyler said when tents began appearing, she wanted to understand who was living there. She began working with filmmaker Will Bowes to explore the inner workings of the encampment and the circumstances of its residents.
“Home” introduces audiences to unhoused people who settled at Brookside and describes multiple pathways that can lead to homelessness, including people losing livelihoods, experiencing abuse, the death of loved ones, and challenges related to addiction and mental health.
The filmmakers said they first entered the property without filming equipment and listened to people’s stories. Once relationships formed, they asked residents if they were comfortable speaking on camera, and those who agreed received a Tim Hortons gift card acknowledging their time.
Schuyler said they also asked residents if they would give a tour of their tents or structures. She described residents taking pride in their setups, saying they had “little gardens and little pathways” to get to their homes.
The documentary, which the filmmakers said collected about 60 hours of footage over roughly a year, also includes perspectives from the local community. That coverage includes input from Cobourg’s mayor, social workers, community advocates, and concerned citizens with reservations about the encampment’s proximity to local schools.
Schuyler said the documentary contains no narration, describing it as a choice made because “narration can be leading and it can be judgmental.” She linked that approach to her work earlier on “Degrassi,” saying she wanted young people to have an authentic voice and for the issue to be viewed from multiple sides.
Bowes said making the documentary changed his understanding of what leads people to an encampment. He said he previously believed years of bad decisions and substance abuse were the cause, but that “couldn’t be farther from the truth,” adding that many people were there because of what he described as a difficult period during COVID.
The film also follows how homelessness can shift rather than progress in a straight line. It includes examples of some residents moving into a motel after Brookside was sold and the encampment was dismantled, only to later be required to leave again.
Schuyler and Bowes said their goal is not to provide a single, clear solution, but to encourage audiences to reflect on what they see. Schuyler said, “We are so rich with resources, both land and otherwise,” and argued it is embarrassing that people are not treated better, while Bowes said he hopes it leads to more empathy for homeless people.
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