Danny Schur, an Ethelbert native who was a staunch promoter of the immigrant experience through his creative works, has died of brain cancer.

Schur was an avid composer and producer who was best known for honouring his heritage by putting the Ukrainian immigrant experience at the heart of his creations.

“I remember being 10 and praying at night thinking, ‘oh God why have You cursed me with wanting to be a composer.’ But shortly after that, thinking I really, really want to do musicals and in university, my composition teacher saying, ‘your songs really sound like Broadway songs’,” Schur told the Herald in an interview in 2000 as he was getting ready to stage his first musical, The Bridge.

Written and produced in its entirety by Schur and starring Manitoba talent such as Roblin’s Amber Fleury, The Bridge, marked Schur’s first step toward his dream of making Manitoba a centre for original musical productions.

The Bridge, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of Ukrainian settlement in Canada, was semi-autobiographical and an insiders look into the music industry.

Schur was best known for his composition and production of the musical Strike! in 2005, which told the story of the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike from an immigrant’s perspective, in particular the Ukrainian community.

“People often ask me, ‘oh why did you choose to do a musical on the Winnipeg General Strike?’ Well it takes place during it, but it’s really about immigrant issues of 1919 that still apply today.”

Schur adapted Strike! for the big screen under the title Stand!, which, after many years of hard work and production, opened in September 2019 at the Toronto International Film Festival. Another noteable foray into film was Schur’s 2015 documentary, Made in Winnipeg: the Terry Sawchuk Origin Story.

During his upbringing in Ethelbert, Schur was exposed to the world of music taking piano and singing in the church choir before attending the University of Manitoba’s School of Music.

On top of his foray into the world of musicals, Schur worked with several high profile musicians and groups such as Chantal Kreviazuk, McMaster and James, and Doc Walker.

Schur received his cancer diagnosis late last year and died last Monday. He was 56 years old.