Filmmaker and activist mulls another jump into politics
Tackling the many challenges facing Montreal North would be top priority
It may have been Denis Coderre's recent return to municipal politics that got Will Prosper fired up. Or perhaps it was a recruitment call he received from Projet Montréal — possibly from Mayor Valérie Plante herself, as rumour has it — or another from an unnamed federal party that he assures was not the Conservatives.
Whatever the impetus, the filmmaker and Montreal North community activist is considering capitalizing on his rising public profile and entering the world of politics.
“It's a tough decision,” Prosper said. “I'm still thinking about it.”
At the top of the former RCMP officer's list of concerns are the many challenges facing the borough of Montreal North, where he grew up.
“To see what Denis Coderre has to offer was really frustrating to me,” he said. “We need real change from people who can influence and care about the population. We don't have that right now.”
He is particularly disappointed by the performance of Christine Black, borough mayor of Montreal North, who was elected in a 2016 byelection as part of Coderre's party.
In contrast, he points to Hoodstock, the youth organization he co-founded over a decade ago, which has reinvented itself to meet the needs of the community during the pandemic.
“What Hoodstock has done is amazing,” Prosper said. “We've almost done more than the borough to prevent COVID in Montreal North. We were the first organization to distribute (over 25,000) masks, not just (the first) in Montreal or Quebec but in Canada. Montreal North was an epicentre of COVID and it was important for us to intervene.
“We distributed laptops (to underprivileged households), and organized a St-jean-baptiste show on June 24. We are still working, doing a block-by-block survey of the population to see what people need, and what we can do in the future to prevent (the situation from repeating).”
Prosper's commitment to Hoodstock is one of the things making him think twice about making the jump to politics. Another is family; he is the father of a 10-yearold and 14-year-old, and wants to make sure he always has time for his kids. And then there's the documentary he's working on about Fredy Villanueva, the 18-year-old who was fatally shot by Montreal police in 2008.
But the fact is there's work to be done. And the growing evidence seems to indicate that his services are both wanted and needed.
“It's very tempting, and very flattering,” Prosper said, of the proposals that have come his way. “I have hesitation, but I also see the possibility of the influence I can have as an elected official to change all these issues that are very dear to me. COVID is a perfect example, in terms of all the actions not taken by the borough or at a provincial level.
“You have a possibility through your elected role to change things, to bring vision and inject money to make sure your community is not going to be as affected (as it would have been otherwise). The poverty level in Montreal North has been steadily increasing over the past 10 years. Transportation is something we don't get (enough of ). When you talk environment, culture, social housing or the impact you could have on youth, there are so many things you can do. I grew up in the community. That's going to change the dynamic.”
Prosper represented Montreal North as Québec solidaire's candidate in the Bourassa-sauvé riding in the 2012 provincial election — a campaign he says he “knew I was going to lose” (he came in fourth) yet ran in anyway for the platform it gave him to talk about important issues. This time, he feels there could be an opportunity to do more than just talk.
“I think people understand, and know the work I've done and who I am,” Prosper said. “If I get involved, I'm going to stay true and defend them like I've been doing as a volunteer for the past 15 years.”