April 11, 2023

Remembering Danny Schur

On Monday, April 10th, 2023, Danny Schur, long time friend of Heritage Winnipeg, passed away at the age of 56 after a brief battle with brain cancer. Exuberant and tenacious, Danny was passionate about music and history, which he wove together to create timeless stories about the people of Winnipeg. His works are a lasting legacy that will inspire generations to love history and fearlessly pursue their dreams.

Growing up in Ethelbert, a small Ukrainian-Canadian community northwest of Dauphin, Manitoba, Danny was inspired to create music, playing the piano, singing in a Ukrainian church choir and even composing his own works. He moved to Winnipeg to attend the University of Manitoba’s School of Music, studying piano and composition. Danny went on to work as a composer, lyricist, producer, manager, filmmaker and playwright – often championing Ukrainian-Canadians and the labour class. Best known for his stage musical Strike!, which tells the story of a Ukrainian immigrant who was killed during the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike, Danny would let nothing stop him from realizing this project. Overcoming many obstacles, Danny would go on to adapt the musical into a feature film, Stand!, shot in Winnipeg and released across Canada in 2019.

Danny was a long time participant in Heritage Winnipeg’s Doors Open Winnipeg event, hosting walking tours, putting on a re-enactment of the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike, launching his 1919 Winnipeg General Strike documentary, screening Stand! at the Burton Cummings Theatre and more. His excitement for Winnipeg’s history was infectious and captivated the crowd when speaking about the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike at Heritage Winnipeg’s 13th annual Spring Fundraiser Luncheon. “What I find fascinating about the strike is that its history literally bleeds out of the buildings of our city,” Danny told the Winnipeg Free Press in 2003. Heritage Winnipeg is forever grateful for Danny’s generosity of time and talent throughout the years, helping celebrate the stories our buildings tell.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to Danny’s family, friends and colleagues – he was a wonderful person that will be missed by the many whose lives he touched.