Beit Zatoun Wall of Memories

The still photo above is taken from the CBC video documentary There’s No Place Like This Place, Anyplace about the sale and closing of Mirvish Village in 2016 for real estate development.  Not surprisingly, Beit Zatoun got a lot more attention from the mainstream media when it was closing than when it was open and thriving.  Such is fickle media but Beit Zatoun existed for its specific audience and served the grassroots communities.  Below is a selection of articles, audio and video clips about Beit Zatoun.  It is in the nature of grassroots to be too hurried and stressed to think about posterity, the result is these few smatterings – the rest lives in people’s memory and hearts.

To access the archive of Beit Zatoun events, please visit.

Why I’m Going to Miss Beit Zatoun
The centre helped me learn about my Palestinian heritage. Now, it’s closing.
by Amanda Ghazale Aziz, Torontoist.com, Nov-24-2016

Palestinian activist cultural centre in Toronto leaving ‘on high note’
As Beit Zatoun prepares to close, founder Robert Massoud and supporters say the centre will live on as an idea
by Jillian Kestler-D’Amours, middleeasteye.net, 23-Nov-2016

After 1,000 events, activist hub Beit Zatoun forced to close
Mirvish Village development means the end for Annex community space
Laura Howells, CBC News,  Nov-27-2016

Goodbye to the Mirvish Village people
Sandro Contenta, Toronto Star, Jan-21-2017

The Toronto block that no longer exists: former Mirvish Village business owners on why it was so special
“It was a gift from Ed Mirvish. And it allowed people to do creative things.”
CBC Docs, Nov-10-2020

The Olive House in Toronto: Beit Zatoun
Student report for course “Diasporic Lives of Objects” at Ryerson University
by mahmerkhan in Mar-12-2012

In the House of Olives
Seeking a little glam with my Mideast politics, I chose a seat under the stunning Depression glass chandelier Friday night,.
by Ellie Kirzner, NOW Toronto, May 10, 2012

A year in the life of Beit Zatoun
The Beit Zatoun collective, rabble.ca Feb-03-2011

Beit Zatoun, espace de vie (in French)
Janine Messadié, L’Express May-19-2015

Beit Zatoun Hosts Reading of “Seven Days From a Gaza Diary
Delinda C. Hanley, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, April 2010

From Palestine to important multi-movement infrastructure in Toronto
Talking Radical Radio with Scott Neigh, Epsiode #90 Nov-19-2014 – 28 minutes
Also can be heard on rabble.ca podcast
Full Description of episode

Radio Regent: News & Views with David Wall
Interview with Robert Massoud, founder of Beit Zatoun (beginning at xx min), May-24-2019

There’s No Place Like This Place, Anyplace
The beloved and iconic Toronto landmark, Honest Ed’s, is sold to make way for development and an uncertain future.
Directed by Lulu Wei, CBC Docs POV, 2020
A full length documentary The film profiles the issue of gentrification in Toronto, Ontario through the history, demolition and redevelopment of the historic Honest Ed’s department store and its effects on the larger Mirvish Village neighbourhood where Beit Zatoun was located.

Honest Ed’s documentary an honest look at the beloved Toronto store and the future of Bloor/Bathurst
Peter Howell, Toronto Star, Tue., May-26-2020