Activist Will Prosper running for mayor of Montreal-North under Plante

MONTREAL (CityNews) — Montreal activist and documentary filmmaker Will Prosper is running for mayor of Montreal-North with Projet Montreal.

Mayor Valérie Plante and Prosper made the announcement on Wednesday.

Prosper is a former RCMP officer and grew up in Montreal-North. He says young people in his community are still facing the same issues he and his brothers faced when they were kids.

Prosper co-founded Montréal-Nord Républik, a citizens’ movement against police brutality and economic oppression.

He is also the co-founder of the Hoodstock Social Forum, a group that wants to create dynamic and inclusive urban spaces.

“It’s hard for me to say it, and it pains me to say, but the lack of self-confidence is something you see in this community,” said Prosper. “It’s something that I was dealing with all these years. I had the potential just to be a director, I had the potential to be an elected official, we have so much potential, but we live in a community where we break the dreams of these youths and it’s time to open up these dreams and make sure that people realize their full potential.”

Prosper has been critical of Plante in the past, but decided to join her team because he says the mayor showed him she’s willing to invest time and energy in the borough.

“Montreal North needs to become a priority in the development of our city,” said Plante. “Too many past administrations have ignored this key sector, which has been slow to reach its full potential. … All of Montreal will benefit from seeing the development of the city’s northeast move into high gear.”

Added Prosper:  “The time has come to breathe new life into our borough. Our team knows the terrain and the needs of the population, in particular young people, to whom we must offer the winning conditions to succeed. I share the mayor’s vision for better access to public and active transportation, more green spaces, decent and affordable housing, more sports, cultural and community facilities, and an ambitious local economic recovery plan. This is what will allow us to relaunch our borough on a lasting basis.”

Current Montreal-North mayor Christine Black is running for re-election under Denis Coderre’s Ensemble Montreal.