WATCH: 5 years after demolition, what’s the current status of the Little Mountain redevelopment? Darlene Heidemann reports.
David Vaisbord hasn’t forgotten about the 36 buildings in the Little Mountain housing complex knocked down in 2009.
In fact, it’s the exact opposite – he’s making a documentary about the process.
“I’m very happy to be involved in this project. I want it out there so more communities can learn from this. This is a learning experience,” he says.
The federal government transferred the social housing complex next to Queen Elizabeth Park to the province, who then sold it to a private developer with the promise they would rebuild the social housing units. Most living here were displaced – with the promise they could return in two years.
That was in 2007. In 2009 all but one unit was knocked down, despite a protracted battle.
Today, the site is still mostly empty. A senior’s centre is about to be completed, but over 200 subsidized housing units and 1400 market housing units have yet to be built.
Vaisbord has been interviewing displaced members of Little Mountain and attending plenty of public meetings in the last five years. He’s hoping his documentary will illuminate the ramifications displacing low-income people.
And he hopes politicians will take notice.
“My message to the government is let’s not do this ever again. Please. I don’t want to keep making films like this. Once is enough.”
– With files from Darlene Heidemann