Nominations growing for documentary shot in city

A documentary shot at a recovery centre on Lansdowne Street is racking up nominations in the United States.

The Making of Recovery was filmed at the Canadian Health Recovery Centre (CHRC). Since being released a month ago, the 26-minute piece has garnered 21 film nominations, 20 in America and one in Canada. And it’s already won a handful of awards in California.

CHRC is a residence-based treatment facility for men with alcohol and drug dependencies as well as men who suffer with anxiety and depression.

The 35-bed facility opened in the former Kawartha Lakes Bible College in Cavan Monaghan Township in May 2015.

The centre uses a holistic approach, combining biochemical, emotional, physical, nutritional and spiritual care.

Matthew Gillespie, 35, created and filmed the documentary. He used one camera and one microphone to keep an intimate feel. Gillespie checked into the facility last year to treat his anxiety and depression.

While undergoing treatment at the centre, he was inspired to tell the stories of those recovering in an effort to encourage others to seek help.

The Whitby resident has worked in the film, television and broadcast industry for more than a decade.

Gillespie filmed clients during live treatments.

“Which has never been done before,” he said, mentioning how similarly themed television shows are filmed on closed sets, not in centres.

The filmmaker has already received an email from a young man who said he’d watched the documentary and was moved to tears and sought help.

“It was enough for him to ask his family to check him into the centre – that’s all I needed, I don’t these awards...that’s all I needed,” he said.