A Message from the Dutch Consul General

We're delighted to announce our second sponsor, The Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Toronto. Incredibly, Consul General, Marjan Schippers, who has represented the Netherlands in diplomatic posts around the world, has a personal connection to this local Canadian story. She explains that her letter of support, encouraging Dutch-Canadian businesses and organizations to support the project. Full text below.

October 29, 2026

To members of the Dutch-Canadian business community,

I am writing to let you know about an upcoming documentary, Dresden 1957, which restores an important part of our shared history that has largely been forgotten, and to encourage you to consider sponsoring it.

In 1957, six Dutch immigrants working on public infrastructure in Dresden, Ontario, died in a workplace tragedy. Like many Dutch families in those years, they had come to Canada to build a new life.

In fact, I have my own personal connection to Dresden and Chatham-Kent: my parents lived there for 5 years, before moving back to the Netherlands. They were classic Dutch post war immigrants and through them, I learned about the Dresden tragedy when I was I child.

Director Eric Philpott’s documentary tells the story of those six men and their families. The film, which features testimonies and recollections from some of the people who lived through the tragedy, is expected to screen in 2027, coinciding with the 70th anniversary.

The Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Toronto is pleased to lend its support to this project, which tells a story that connects both our countries through the experiences of ordinary families.

The film gives Dutch-Canadians a specific and deeply human story through which to connect with their heritage and with one another. And, importantly, it gives younger generations a way into conversations about why their families came, what they faced, and what they built.

It also acknowledges the labour and sacrifice of the immigrants who helped build Ontario. Today many Dutch-Canadians are still working in agriculture and construction, and workplace safety remains a concern in Ontario and across Canada. Stories like Dresden 1957 remind us of the human cost of workplace tragedies, and why we must not lose the lessons from our past.

For businesses founded by Dutch immigrants or their descendants, sponsorship is a meaningful way to thank the generation that helped establish many of their communities. For everyone, it helps ensure the six men are remembered as people, and that their families’ experiences become part of the public record.

I encourage businesses, organizations, and individuals across Canada to consider sponsoring Dresden 1957.

Sincerely,

Marjan Schippers
Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Toronto

Thank you to Marjan and the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Do you know a business or organization who might want to help us finish DRESDEN 1957? Please contact us!

If you would like to make a personal gift towards completing this project (and join over 200 other crowdfunding supporters) you can do that here. Thank you

Copyright Eric Philpott, 2025