Andrew Brottvick
When the needs of a struggling and drug-addicted community are pitted against the economic interests of a city, the outcome is rarely in question. Money wins. In The Transparent Temple, a determined group of recovering addicts are hoping to be the exception to that rule, bringing focus, understanding, and a new strategy for change they hope will heal the rifts in a broken society. City council will either choose to back 'The Clinic Project', converting the Lund Building into an addiction clinic-with emergency, counselling, detox, and teaching facilities-or 'The Corridor Project', which would demolish the building, in order to make room for a multimillion dollar complex-comprised of a cultural and historical centre, a community centre, and a housing complex for seniors-which will bring tourist dollars to the city’s coffers.The Transparent Temple follows the major players in this struggle through seven pivotal days leading up to the crucial city council vote-days that could mean the difference between life and death for the men and women struggling to survive the addictions that have derailed their lives, and cast them into the role of second class citizens. Regardless of the outcome, the shared journey will impact greatly on the lives of all the major players, whose perspectives will never be the same.
