David Chudnovsky chats with OneCity Council candidate Christine Boyle at OneCity Vancouver campaign headquarters.
On the cusp of Vancouver’s 2018 civic elections I am recording conversations with two of the central characters of “Champions of Little Mountain” — Ingrid Steenhuisen and David Chudnovsky — to find that their ardour for social justice and affordable housing has not waned.
Just this week, exactly 10 years since the first day I met him, I recorded some final words for the documentary with David Chudnovsky at the OneCity Vancouver campaign office, for which he is a campaign supporter. I first met Chudnovsky during the protests to save Little Mountain Housing in October of 2008. He was a key advocate during many of the conflicts between the last tenants of Little Mountain and BC Housing, and I recorded those dramatic moments for the documentary.
In fact, OneCity recently called for the rezoning of the land currently held in limbo by the current “developer” the Holborn Group, stating that “the time for developers to be sitting on empty lots and reaping excessive profits is over.” OneCity is on the right track and I am happy to support them in any way I can!
Holborn Group displays no parking sign on fence surrounding the wasteland they created 10 years ago at Little Mountain.
You can continue to support our work at Little Mountain by voting for OneCity Candidates tomorrow, including the progressive slate of candidates (for Parks, School Board, and Council) represented by OneCity, COPE, Green Party, and other select candidates.
In 2020 the Grunt Gallery will premiere my new short film TimeLapse, on their Community Screen on the Rize Building, Broadway at Kingsway. Details to come.
It’s 2018, and BC Housing’s temporary modular housing fills an urgent need to rebuild the social housing destroyed in 2009 by the Holborn Group at the Little Mountain site. But this temporary housing is neither built by, nor paid for by the Holborn Group. The Holborn Group have done nearly nothing with the property since they signed a deal with the Liberal Government of 2008. In 2013 they completed one new building on the site, as a concession to the last few tenants who refused to comply with an eviction order. These tenants argued that the developer neither had the plans nor the intention to rebuild their social housing community within any previously promised timelines. They were of course correct! That community fought to be heard and respected. Their story is the subject of my upcoming feature documentary: Champions of Little Mountain.
And the story continues…
All for now,
David