Tracey Friesen, Veteran Canadian TV Producer, Dies at 58

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Tracey Friesen, a longtime Canadian TV producer and media strategist, has died. She was 58.

On their website, the Whistler Film Festival announced that Friesen passed away on Monday in Vancouver following a cancer diagnosis in September 2024. As a valued board member, her absence is deeply felt within our community. In a statement, Angela Heck, the executive director, expressed that this loss, both personally and professionally, echoes throughout us all. Friesen’s infectious enthusiasm and discerning, compassionate demeanor always managed to address issues with clarity, precision, and kindness. Her playful blue eyes and radiant smile will be fondly remembered. Our thoughts go out to her family during this difficult time; she will be greatly missed.

Heartfelt condolences flooded the British Columbia film community following the passing of Tracey Friesen. “Her departure leaves a significant void. Not only was she a valued friend, but also a dedicated collaborator whose work significantly enriched our projects and the tapestry of the cinema industry,” said Prem Gill, CEO of Creative B.C., in her own tribute.

For the past five years, I’ve been proudly serving as the Vice President of the B.C. branch at the Canadian Media Producers Association, advocating for independent producers across Canada. Tracey Friesen was an inspiring beacon for our organization. She was unwavering in her conviction that media could catalyze positive societal transformation, and her enthusiasm as a leader was genuinely contagious. Her compassion for people and the environment ran deep. These sentiments were expressed by Reynolds Mastin, President and CEO of the CMPA, in a heartfelt statement.

Raised in Deep Cove, a suburb of Vancouver, and originally hailing from central British Columbia, Friesen pursued a radio and television degree at Ryerson University in Toronto. Following this, he returned to Vancouver to complete an undergraduate degree at the University of British Columbia, and later earned his MBA at Simon Fraser University, which is located nearby.

Following a position at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation where he worked on “The Journal,” a news magazine series, Friesen moved on to Rainmaker Digital Effects in Vancouver. Initially serving as a visual effects producer, he later advanced to roles as a director of sales and industry relations.

After that, she spent twelve years at the National Film Board of Canada, serving as an executive producer for their public filmmaking division. During this time, she oversaw a variety of projects, including documentaries, animations, and interactive media. Some of her notable works at the NFB were “Being Caribou,” “Scared Sacred,” and “Shameless: The ART of Disability.”

For twelve years until 2013, she was employed as an executive producer at the National Film Board of Canada, working within their public filmmaking sector. During her tenure, she managed projects such as documentaries, animations, and digital media. Among her accomplishments during this period were “Being Caribou,” “Scared Sacred,” and “Shameless: The ART of Disability.

In 2014, Friesen started working with Roundhouse Radio in Vancouver as the Director of Programming. Later, from 2014 to 2019, he served as the Director of Communications for the David Suzuki Foundation.

In 2013, Women in Film & Television (WIFT) Vancouver recognized Friesen as their Woman of the Year. Additionally, she published a book titled “Story Money Impact: Funding Media for Social Change” in 2016, which serves as a useful resource for independent content producers and funders.

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2025-01-10 01:54