“Without art, there is no life. It brings joy to people. Without it, life would be difficult.” – Felix Fraser
Felix Fraser is a well-known figure in Edmonton. He is recognized as an outstanding broadcaster, journalist, writer, producer, and an active advocate for human rights. For over 50 years, Felix worked to build a strong artistic community, supporting talented individuals and promoting multiculturalism. More on edmonton-trend.
Searching for His Path
Felix was born in 1932 in Montreal. While in high school, he actively participated in developing school radio programs. His official broadcasting career began at Foster Hewitt’s radio station in Toronto.
In 1958, Felix moved to Regina and immediately began engaging with the public. In 1960, under Fraser’s leadership, the Regina Weekly Mirror magazine was published, focusing on the introduction of healthcare services by Tommy Douglas’s government.
Later, Felix became the Director of Education at the Saskatchewan Alcoholism Commission. In 1965, he relocated to Edmonton, where he continued in the same role at what eventually became the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Commission.
In 1969, Fraser joined the precursor to the Alberta Access TV Network and became the program director for Canada’s first educational television station. By the early 1970s, he co-hosted an evening news and public affairs program on CBC Edmonton and later launched his own show on ITV.
Films and Festival Founding
While working in television, Felix developed an interest in film, leading to the creation of some of Canada’s most successful feature films. In 1976, Fraser produced Why Shoot the Teacher?, followed by Marie Anne in 1977 and The Hounds of Notre Dame in 1978.
All these films received awards and were showcased in cinemas and on television. Felix co-organized Alberta’s first film festival, AMPIA. In 1977, he participated in the Alberta Film Group, which helped establish the Alberta Motion Picture Development Corporation.
In 1978, Fraser chaired the inaugural Commonwealth Games Film Festival. The following year, he founded the Banff International Television Festival. In 1985, Fraser was appointed to the federal Task Force on Broadcasting Policy and later joined the Canadian Multiculturalism Council.
From 1989 to 1992, Felix served as Chief Commissioner of the Alberta Human Rights Commission. From 1995 to 2000, he was the President and CEO of Vision TV.
Fraser’s community engagement expanded to a national scale, leading to his appointment as a director at the Canadian Broadcast Museum Foundation.
Key Achievements
Besides his broadcasting career, Fraser was a talented writer and educator. He authored Culture and the Arts in the Lougheed Years and Running Uphill: The Fast, Short Life of Canadian Champion Harry Jerome. He also wrote numerous articles for newspapers and magazines.
Felix taught advanced courses on subjects ranging from Great Religions and Great Civilizations to Man and Chemical Comforts at the Universities of Saskatchewan and Alberta.
His dedication and hard work earned him numerous accolades. Felix received Alberta’s Achievement Award in Film, was honored by the Canadian Harambee Foundation for his contributions to society, and became a Member of the Order of Canada. In 2005, he was inducted into the Edmonton Cultural Hall of Fame and awarded the Alberta Centennial Medal. In 2012, Felix received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
