Will Prosper
{{Short description|Haitian Canadian filmmaker and activist}}
Wieland (Will) Prosper is a Haitian Canadian filmmaker and activist from Montreal, Quebec.[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/will-prosper-hoodstock-black-changemakers-1.5896019 "This organizer and filmmaker is showing how everyday people can lift up their community"]. CBC News, February 8, 2021. He is most noted for his 2019 film Kenbe la, Until We Win (Kenbe la, jusqu'à la victoire),Marie Tison, [https://www.lapresse.ca/cinema/critiques/2020-01-31/kenbe-la-jusqu-a-la-victoire-rever-malgre-tout "Kenbe la — Jusqu’à la victoire : rêver malgré tout"]. La Presse, January 31, 2020. which won the People's Choice Award at the 2019 Montreal International Documentary Festival,Lauren Malyk, [https://playbackonline.ca/2019/11/25/tasha-hubbards-nipawistamasowin-nabs-trio-of-prizes-at-ridm/ "Tasha Hubbard’s nipawistamasowin nabs trio of prizes at RIDM"]. Playback, November 25, 2019. and was longlisted for the Directors Guild of Canada's DGC Discovery Award in 2020.[https://playbackonline.ca/2020/09/18/in-brief-latimer-deer-among-dgcs-discovery-long-list/ "In brief: Latimer, Deer among DGC's Discovery long list"]. Playback, September 18, 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.Daniel J. Rowe and Amy Luft, [https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/will-prosper-is-more-than-this-error-montreal-mayor-plante-sticking-behind-star-candidate-1.5553277 "'Will Prosper is more than this error': Montreal Mayor Plante sticking behind star candidate"]. CTV News Montreal, August 19, 2021. 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.Catherine Handfield, [https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/200809/08/01-665614-le-passe-rattrape-certains-supporteurs-de-montreal-nord-republik.php "Le passé rattrape certains supporteurs de Montréal-Nord Républik"]. La Presse, November 14, 2008. The organization has since been renamed Hoodstock.T'Cha Dunlevy, [https://www.montrealgazette.com/news/article598932.html "Hoodstock stands with the people of Montreal North"]. Montreal Gazette, January 4, 2021.
Filmmaking
As a filmmaker his projects have included the documentary films Républik BasketJean-Marc Gilbert, [https://journalmetro.com/local/montreal-nord/849763/republik-basket-ou-comment-eloigner-les-jeunes-de-la-rue/ "«Républik Basket» ou comment éloigner les jeunes de la rue"]. Métro, September 30, 2015. and Aller Simple: Haiti,[https://ici.radio-canada.ca/ohdio/premiere/emissions/le-15-18/segments/rattrapage/1587809/documentaire-aller-simple-haiti-entrevue-avec-realisateur-will-prosper "Le documentaire Aller simple Haïti : Entrevue avec le réalisateur Will Prosper"]. Ici Radio-Canada, January 12, 2017. and the television series Black Life: Untold Stories.[https://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/black-life/northern-beats-director-essay-1.7021637 "Why the greatness of hip-hop in Canada is hugely underappreciated"]. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, November 8, 2023. 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.[https://lecanalauditif.ca/chansons/tout-recommencer-hoodstock/ "Tout recommencer"]. Le Canal Auditif, December 4, 2020.
He also served as a script consultant on Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette's 2022 film White Dog (Chien blanc).Maxime Demers, [https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2022/11/02/chien-blanc-le-gout-du-risque "«Chien blanc»: le goût du risque d'Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette"]. Le Journal de Montréal, November 2, 2022.
Political activity
He ran as a Québec solidaire candidate in Bourassa-Sauvé for the 2012 Quebec general election,Kamila Hinkson, [https://globalnews.ca/news/273648/former-cop-and-activist-will-prosper-a-new-quebec-solidaire-candidate-for-montreal-north/ "Former cop and activist Will Prosper a new Québec Solidaire candidate for Montreal North"]. Global News, August 6, 2012. and was a Projet Montréal candidate for mayor of Montréal-Nord in the 2021 Montreal municipal election.Mathieu Prost and Yasmin Khayat, [https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1815803/will-prosper-candidat-election-projet-montreal-nord "Will Prosper briguera la mairie de Montréal-Nord"]. Ici Radio-Canada, August 10, 2021.
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.Toula Drimonis, [https://cultmtl.com/2021/08/projet-montreal-north-will-have-the-final-say-on-the-mayoral-candidacy-of-will-prosper/ "Montreal North will have the final say on the candidacy of Will Prosper"]. Cult MTL, August 24, 2021. 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.Alessia Simona Maratta, [https://globalnews.ca/news/8125973/will-prosper-rcmp-allegations/ "Mayor Plante supports candidate Will Prosper amid reports of past improper conduct as RCMP officer"]. Global News, August 19, 2021. He lost the election to incumbent borough mayor Christine Black.
Electoral record
{{Canadian election result/top|QC|2012|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|QC|Liberal|Rita de Santis|12,518|42.28|-19.05}}
{{CANelec|QC|PQ|Marianne Dessureault|8,092|27.33|+0.46}}
{{CANelec|QC|CAQ|Louis Pelletier|5,165|17.44|+8.88}}
{{CANelec|QC|Québec solidaire|Will Prosper|3,045|10.28|+7.04}}
{{CANelec|QC|Green|Eric Guerra-Grenier Jr.|465|1.57| }}
{{CANelec|QC|Option nationale |Nancy Lavallée|324|1.09|–}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|29,609|98.10|–}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|575|1.90|–}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout|30,184|64.17|+16.49}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Electors on the lists|47,036|–|–}}
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References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{imdb name|7689289}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Prosper, Will}}
Category:Canadian documentary film directors
Category:Black Canadian activists
Category:Black Canadian filmmakers
Category:Film directors from Montreal
Category:Activists from Montreal
Category:Québec solidaire candidates in Quebec provincial elections
Category:Canadian people of Haitian descent
Category:Canadian television directors