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Will Prosper

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Wieland (Will) Prosper is a Haitian Canadian filmmaker and activist from Montreal, Quebec. He is most noted for his 2019 film Kenbe la, Until We Win (Kenbe la, jusqu'à la victoire), which won the People's Choice Award at the 2019 Montreal International Documentary Festival, and was longlisted for the Directors Guild of Canada's DGC Discovery Award in 2020.

Background

As a teenager he was associated with Dope Squad, a breakdancing crew which began engaging in criminal gang activity long after Prosper left it. He was later a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer from 1988 to 2001, but left that job after being accused of conducting unauthorized background searches on Steve Bernavil, a former Dope Squad colleague who was under investigation as a murder suspect at the time but was later cleared of involvement in the case.

Activism

He began his activism in 2008 after the shooting of Fredy Villanueva, as a co-founder of Montréal-Nord Républik, an organization that provides community legal aid to residents of the Montreal borough of Montréal-Nord and other projects to combat racism. The organization has since been renamed Hoodstock.

Filmmaking

As a filmmaker his projects have included the documentary films Républik Basket and Aller Simple: Haiti, and the television series Black Life: Untold Stories. In 2020 he directed the music video for "Tout recommencer", a supergroup single of Quebec hip-hop musicians released in support of Hoodstock, whose participants included Imposs, Shreez, Tizzo, Sarahmée, Marco Volcy, Rosalvo and Meryem Saci.

He also served as a script consultant on Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette's 2022 film White Dog (Chien blanc).

Political activity

He ran as a Québec solidaire candidate in Bourassa-Sauvé for the 2012 Quebec general election, and was a Projet Montréal candidate for mayor of Montréal-Nord in the 2021 Montreal municipal election.

His 2021 candidacy was marred by the revelation of the circumstances behind his departure from the RCMP, with political opponents and media falsely accusing him of direct personal involvement in criminal activity. Projet Montréal leader Valérie Plante expressed confidence in Prosper's candidacy, noting that his record as a community leader and filmmaker should demonstrate that he was far more than just one ethical mistake from decades earlier. He lost the election to incumbent borough mayor Christine Black.

References

  1. "This organizer and filmmaker is showing how everyday people can lift up their community". CBC News, February 8, 2021.
  2. Marie Tison, "Kenbe la — Jusqu’à la victoire : rêver malgré tout". La Presse, January 31, 2020.
  3. Lauren Malyk, "Tasha Hubbard’s nipawistamasowin nabs trio of prizes at RIDM". Playback, November 25, 2019.
  4. "In brief: Latimer, Deer among DGC's Discovery long list". Playback, September 18, 2020.
  5. ^ Daniel J. Rowe and Amy Luft, "'Will Prosper is more than this error': Montreal Mayor Plante sticking behind star candidate". CTV News Montreal, August 19, 2021.
  6. Catherine Handfield, "Le passé rattrape certains supporteurs de Montréal-Nord Républik". La Presse, November 14, 2008.
  7. T'Cha Dunlevy, "Hoodstock stands with the people of Montreal North". Montreal Gazette, January 4, 2021.
  8. Jean-Marc Gilbert, "«Républik Basket» ou comment éloigner les jeunes de la rue". Métro, September 30, 2015.
  9. "Le documentaire Aller simple Haïti : Entrevue avec le réalisateur Will Prosper". Ici Radio-Canada, January 12, 2017.
  10. "Why the greatness of hip-hop in Canada is hugely underappreciated". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, November 8, 2023.
  11. "Tout recommencer". Le Canal Auditif, December 4, 2020.
  12. Maxime Demers, "«Chien blanc»: le goût du risque d'Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette". Le Journal de Montréal, November 2, 2022.
  13. Kamila Hinkson, "Former cop and activist Will Prosper a new Québec Solidaire candidate for Montreal North". Global News, August 6, 2012.
  14. Mathieu Prost and Yasmin Khayat, "Will Prosper briguera la mairie de Montréal-Nord". Ici Radio-Canada, August 10, 2021.
  15. Toula Drimonis, "Montreal North will have the final say on the candidacy of Will Prosper". Cult MTL, August 24, 2021.
  16. Alessia Simona Maratta, "Mayor Plante supports candidate Will Prosper amid reports of past improper conduct as RCMP officer". Global News, August 19, 2021.

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