The World In Ten Blocks

Immigrant entrepreneurs shaping Toronto, ten blocks at a time

The World in Ten Blocks is set in Bloorcourt, a stretch of Bloor Street in downtown Toronto where immigrant owned small businesses form the heart of the neighbourhood. In a city where nearly half the population was born outside Canada, this area becomes a powerful microcosm of contemporary immigration and entrepreneurship. Across just ten blocks, the film brings together the voices of a dozen entrepreneurs whose journeys reflect both the challenges and rewards of building a new life.

Structured in seven thematic chapters, the 34 minute documentary takes viewers inside kitchens, bakeries and grocery stores where cultures are preserved, adapted and shared. Jesús Morales of La Bella Managua recounts how war and the loss of his father in Nicaragua led him to seek a future in Canada. An Eritrean restaurateur reflects on the shock of Toronto’s winter and the long road to opening African Palace. Other stories connect Mexico, Colombia, Portugal and Jamaica to this Canadian neighbourhood, revealing histories of displacement, ambition and determination.

The project extends beyond the film itself. Conceived as a transmedia documentary, it also includes a feature length interactive web experience presented in partnership with The Globe and Mail. Designed as an online walking tour of Bloorcourt, the web documentary allows audiences to explore the history of immigration in the area while engaging directly with the participants. Together, the film and interactive platform form a collective portrait of immigration in Toronto, balancing stories of hardship and loss with a clear affirmation of diversity and belonging.