Fil Fraser facts for kids

Felix Blache-Fraser (August 19, 1932 – December 3, 2017) was a talented Black Canadian who worked in many fields. He was a broadcaster, author, film producer, and educator. He also helped start a film festival and worked for the government in Alberta.

Broadcasting and Media Work

Felix Fraser started his career in broadcasting in 1951 when he was just 19 years old. He was hired by Foster Hewitt to work at his radio station CKFH in Toronto.

In 1952, he worked as a radio announcer in Timmins, Ontario. After six months, he became an assistant news editor at CKBB radio in Barrie. There, he became the sports director and called games for the Barrie Flyers hockey team.

Fraser moved back to Montreal in 1955. He studied at McGill University and hosted a night show at CKVL radio. In 1956, he worked as a news editor at CFCF radio, later becoming the chief writer.

Moving West and New Ventures

In 1958, Fraser moved to western Canada. He worked in public relations for Saskatchewan Government Insurance. He also continued his radio work, hosting discussions about junior hockey games. Sometimes, he even did the play-by-play announcing. In 1960, he started his own newspaper called the Regina Weekly Mirror.

He moved to Edmonton in 1965. There, he became a program manager and senior producer for MEETA. This was Canada's first educational television channel, which aired on CBXFT. Later, Fraser hosted Newsmakers, a weekly public affairs show on ITV Global Edmonton. He then became the president and CEO of VisionTV in Toronto.

In 1974, Felix Fraser hosted his own talk show on CITV. He also hosted a talk show on CJCA-AM radio in Edmonton for five years. In 1980, he moved his talk show to CKXM-FM Edmonton. This show ran for three years. In 1983, he became the host of Alberta Morning, a daily program on CKUA-AM. Later, in 1987, he became the Director of Development for Access Alberta in Edmonton.

Fraser also helped shape media rules. He served on the Alberta Task Force on Film and the Federal Task Force on Broadcasting Policy. He was also a Governor of the Canadian Journalism Foundation.

Film Production and Festivals

In the 1970s, Fraser started a company to make educational TV films. He then produced four feature films between 1977 and 1982. These included Why Shoot the Teacher?, Marie-Anne, The Hounds of Notre Dame, and Latitude 55°. He was also a founding member of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.

He organized the first Alberta Film Festival in 1974. This festival later became the Alberta Motion Picture Industry Association. In 1979, he founded the Banff International Television Festival, which is a very important event for TV shows.

Writing Books

Felix Fraser wrote several non-fiction books. His 2003 book, Alberta's Camelot: Culture and the Arts in the Lougheed Years, looked at how the government helped arts and culture grow in Alberta.

In 2006, he wrote Running Uphill: The Fast, Short Life of Canadian Champion Harry Jerome. This book was about Harry Jerome, a pioneering Black Canadian track star. In 2009, he finished How the Blacks Created Canada. This book was part of a series about how different cultural groups helped build Canada.

Public Service and Teaching

Fraser was the Chief Commissioner for the Alberta Human Rights Commission from 1989 to 1992. This role meant he worked to protect people's rights and ensure fair treatment. He also served on the Spicer Commission, which studied important issues for Canada.

He also worked as an educator and writer on health programs. He led prevention programs for health challenges in both Alberta and Saskatchewan. He was also a professor at Athabasca University, where he taught about law and government.

Honours and Awards

Felix Fraser received many important awards for his work. He was made a member of the Order of Canada, which is one of the highest honours in Canada. He also received the Alberta Achievement Award. In 2015, he became a member of the Alberta Order of Excellence, another very high honour in Alberta.

Death

Felix Fraser passed away in Edmonton on December 3, 2017, at the age of 85. He died from heart failure. He was survived by his wife, Gladys Odegard, his four children, and three siblings.