The filmmaker Skin and Bones has executed an elaborate hoax on area residents and Bayview Ave. merchants in which it purported to be an unknown private charity called the Jefferson Shelter. Notices outside the boarded up front of 1591 Bayview (most recently Sleep Country) said a 62-bed shelter would soon open at the location. Employees of the film company posing as workers of Jefferson, said that, yes, this was the plan. One of them, Angie, agreed with a suggestion that it would be necessary to bus the homeless to Bayview in order to find anyone to sleep in the beds. Skin and Bones will make a commercial at the site for the charity Raising the Roof. It appears that certain merchants may have been in on the hoax. But for large numbers of people it was a shocking development. The “Jefferson” outline said there would be three volunteer workers to look after the homeless. This astounding assertion caused some women to say they would not be walking alone at night on Bayview Ave.
Me for one…..if there is a faster way to turn me off of giving to any organization it is by trickery. An honest approach gets my money.
I was actually going to volunteer but now that I was lied to and feel like a complete idiot for falling for what was such a far-fetched proposal in the first place, I don’t feel like supporting Raising the Roof and will give my support to other organizations that don’t use manipulative tactics.
I FELT THE SAME WAY! And wanted my children to lend a helping hand too 🙁
If people are being filmed without their knowledge…then this is completely wrong and an invasion of privacy. Talk about Big Brother tactics. I walked by it the other day and expressed surprise to a friend I was walking with because I wondered where the homeless were going to come from. SoI guess that was captured on camera. I also do not think most Leaside residents would have a problem if it were to be a shelter. The main problem would be for the already struggling merchants on Bayview Avenue.
It ruined my day….thanks
there is also what looks to be a camera mounted on the hoarding, so the might also be filming passers by……
“Raise the Roof” campaign
That’s just creepy.
UPDATE: Jon Burnside (City Councillor) replied to me that “They are filming a commercial. This is not an actual development.” I’m assuming “They” is Skin & Bones film productions. In any event, if it’s a PR stunt, it goes against marketing 101 – “Don’t lie to people or be misleading!” They should be communicating to people’s hearts and not eliciting a response by preying on their fears.
The concern/confusion/fear…however you choose to label it was a result of not having enough facts which were purposely withheld for the obvious intention of eliciting a strong emotional response from the community. This was gross manipulation and preying on people’s fears OF THE UNKNOWN…not necessarily of the homeless shelter per se. There were some who were going to volunteer, but now feel duped and now questioning if they should support Raising the Roof at all. This prank did nothing more than possibly alienate the very people you think they would want to have support the cause? If not, I’m not sure what the point of this was. I any event, it created more negative things than good – pitting people against one another….like being labeled a NIMBY as one example.
I feel totally violated. So they essentially made concerned citizens look really bad (i.e. NIMBY) by manipulating a situation and taking things way out of context to further their cause. Also, I’m sure someone is making money from this i – I doubt the film company was donating their time. Then they used unaware residents as free “actors” for their ad. This is a perfect example of why you should NEVER believe anything you see in the media!
I hope that our city councilor is actually on top of this, if it isn’t against any bylaw than a bylaw is required. Very poor taste by skin and bones film company.
Regardless of whether this is a hoax or not, EVERYONE should be calling the film company 416-639-5920, the alleged shelter 1-888-859-0185 and the Councillor Jon Burnside 416-392-0215 to find out what’s going on and to voice their concerns. Either way, the community needs to speak up.
I called Skin and Bones 416-639-5920 and it appears to be a PR stunt for something they’re filming. They say to call 1-888-859-0185 for more information but it’s just a recording about “learning about the new shelter” and “volunteering”. The film company seems to be trying to establish some kind of distance to the alleged hoax, citing “someone” else is coordinating it.
If this was indeed a hoax which has yet to be established, it is completely irresponsible and has greatly upset many of the residents and merchants. If someone is trying to get publicity, this is not the way to get it.
Totally in poor taste.