Charlotte’s Castle

When a foreign-owned developer seeks to modernize the apartments of Spadina Gardens, a quirky cast of unlikely activists battle to safeguard a Toronto historical landmark of which they consider themselves the caretakers. Built in 1905-6, the half-block mid-rise apartment complex at Spadina and Lowther is the oldest Toronto apartment house to maintain its original floor plans and many original architectural details.

These rental units have drawn an eclectic mix of tenants: literary, industrial, operatic, from economizing aristocrats to ascending rock stars—embodying the very creative spirit that now continues to draw people and developers to Toronto. After their home is sold to a Dutch developer, the Spadina Gardens residents form an association to petition for heritage status to protect the building in the context of a housing crisis and dramatically rising property values. The tenants’ fight to preserve Spadina Gardens offers unique insights into the current housing crisis, and about the solidarity of all tenants wanting rental housing security.

Due to the extraordinary access provided by the tenants, the film allows viewers to better understand design, and to see and “feel” the experience of inhabiting these apartments, offering a wide audience a rare opportunity to understand the value of an historic property to its residents. Beyond several well-attended theatrical screenings in Toronto and Vancouver, Charlotte’s Castle achieved more than 55,000 views in the first three months on the TVOntario YouTube platform, making it one of TVO’s top three-watched programs of 2023.