Russ Froese: Still Curious

Russ Froese, photographed at SFU’s Surrey Campus, says it’s important to speak up and get involved. Photos: Tom Gould

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RUSS FROESE:

STILL CURIOUS

by VERENA FOXX

Russ Froese had just put the youngest of his five grandchildren – the two-year-old – down for a nap.

“I am actively involved with them,” he says. “They are young and it’s a good time to be there.”

He speaks about his grandchildren and his engagement in their lives with the same passion he pursues everything in his life.

With a 35-year award-winning career that he left in 2003, the former notable BC-based broadcast journalist says he loved journalism because it exposed him to so many ideas and concepts and people and countries.

“The curiosity of it all has never left me,” says Russ, adding that of the five W’s (who, what, where, when, why) of questioning, “it’s the why that is an important ingredient of being a good broadcaster. I love giving people context for information.”

Russ says he has followed his curiosity his entire life and continues to do that. “I just want to know things.”

Russ and his family, which includes his wife, Margo, two adult children and the five grandchildren, believe in being engaged citizens of the world.

“It’s important to be informed and to understand the context of a situation; to hear the many sides of a story, and then to speak up and get involved.”

“For us, our family, it’s about how to believe in something. Not what to believe in.”

Russ sees his grandparent role as one of passing on his experiences and value system, as needed, by “being there” for them.

“We are all worried about what the next generations are inheriting,” he says, “and if we can help them become the best-rounded citizens of the world, then they can participate and get involved.”

He cites critical thinking as an important skill for engagement. And turning up to vote.

“You have a career that takes up a great part of your life. Then your kids grow up and you have other interests that you haven’t had time to do, so you pursue them,” he says. “I’m always ready to move on to new things. I have many other doors to open.”

Opening doors is exactly what he’s been doing since he retired from his comprehensive broadcasting career that included locally anchoring CKVU, U-TV and Global news, nationally co-anchoring with CBC’s Barbara Frum, and working for eight years as a documentary reporter with The Journal, producing close to 90 documentaries in 20 different countries.

Russ’s long-time interest in municipal affairs and how cities work landed him on the Board of Vancouver’s Sustainable Cities International, a non-profit organization that has been a leader in urban sustainability for over 20 years.

His humanitarian interests got him involved as a volunteer with the Canadian Red Cross in 2004.

“It’s a wonderful organization that really does things,” he says with enthusiasm. “Because of its independence and neutrality, their global humanitarian support is colossal.”

With his extensive media experience, Russ, after initial Red Cross training, was sent on several overseas missions as a Communications Specialist.

“I was in Banda Aceh in Indonesia in 2006, working with international media during the intense one-year anniversary period in the disaster zone,” he says referring to the tsunami devastation.

Russ still works with the CRC as Provincial Team Leader of their Detention Monitoring Program, which oversees immigration and security detainees at Canadian prisons.

He also sits on the Board of the Surrey Homelessness and

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Snapshot with Russ Froese

If you were to meet your 20-year-old self, what advice would you give him?

“I’d say two things: - No, you don’t know everything! - Start preparing and thinking about your future.”

Who or what has influenced you the most? And why?

“Travel. Definitely travel. My extensive travel has led me to have context to understand the world. Travel has affected who I am today.”

What does courage mean to you?

“My answer today is different than when I was younger. Courage is to hang in there when times are tough; courage is to stick to my principles; courage is to listen when I think I have all the answers – because I don’t!”

What does success mean to you?

“Success is knowing that I am loved and respected by my family and friends. I know that I’ve given something of myself that is valuable.”

Housing Society.

His expertise in media strategy, crisis management and media training keep him consulting with Hoggan & Associates in those areas. Russ admits his eight-year stint in the 1980s, as a documentary journalist and producer with The Journal, was probably the highlight of his journalism career because he was on the front lines of so much history while it was unfolding.

“It was an honour to get paid to dive into these subjects,” he says, mentioning some of the stories he investigated, including the 1982 Falklands conflict between Argentina and Britain; Regan’s 1983 proposed Star Wars; Greenpeace; the 1980’s Claus von Bulow trial; Pinochet’s human rights violations in Chile, and Looting a Legacy, concerning the logging of BC Forests.

His documentaries won numerous awards, including the New York IFF Gold Medal, the Chicago FF Bronze Medal, the B’nai B’rith National Humanitarian Award and Canada’s Prix Anik.

“I’m just a guy travelling through life,” says Russ. “And I love it. I’ve been so lucky to have a career that consumed me. And then I started doing other things that interested me. I don’t often look back. That was then; this is now. There are so many things to learn and do. I appreciate every day.”

On that note, Russ, who has been playing music on and off since he was a teenager, talked about his lifelong passion for the pastime. He is a founding member of the Ocean Park Wailers in South Surrey. The band describe their beginnings as “three experienced but retired musicians coming back to their craft.” The group is now a seven-member garage band that focuses on rock, R&B and deep blues. Russ plays bass and rhythm guitar and sings back-up vocals.

“We are old guys with good equipment,” he quips, describing his group and the musical man cave that they practice in. “We have fun.”

The Ocean Park Wailers (oceanparkwailers. com) perform on request at private functions and more regularly at the South Surrey Legion.

Russ is also a committed athlete. “Athletics are a huge part of life,” he says. “Sports teach so many life skills, including keeping fit.” The tennis player and Grand Slam fan says he’s regularly on the courts with friends, playing singles and doubles.

He offers his grandchildren access to these experiences, while supporting them in finding their own way.

“I’m surprised that I’m doing as much as I am,” he says. “I’ve always liked life’s unpredictability. But I’m slowing it all down a bit.”

At the same time, he still works on projects as they come up and for organizations he supports and as time allows.

As for travel, Russ says there is no Bucket List because he’s done so much of that with his work. Following his extensive career travel, he and Margo spent half a decade regularly visiting family in Italy and travelling in Europe and East Asia.

“Now I’m more interested in finding places that interest us and that we can stay put in and explore.”

“I’m just going to continue to be open,” concludes Russ. “I don’t think that curiosity goes away – despite your age.” |

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