Longtime Canadian broadcaster Tony Parsons will be visiting the University of the Fraser Valley’s  Chilliwack campus this week for an interactive discussion covering an array of topics.

A Life in the News will explore Parsons’ career as a media personality, which has spanned more than 50 years.

He will also be responding to audience questions, providing insights into his life and discussing his recent move from Global TV to CHEK-TV in Victoria and a new contract with CBC News.

Hosted by UFV’s Centre for Education and Research on Aging (CERA), the free event is taking place on Friday, Oct. 14 from 12:30-2:30 p.m. in the UFV Chilliwack campus theatre, 45635 Yale Rd., and requires an RSVP.

“CERA asked Tony Parsons to be our speaker this year for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that he is one of Canada’s most popular and respected news figures as well as an icon on British Columbia’s TV screens for more than three decades,” said Darren Blakeborough, a faculty member from  the Social, Cultural and Media Studies department, who is helping to organize the event.

Blakeborough believes that the CBC’s decision to hire Parsons after his 70th birthday is a momentous one, and will help “dispel the societal notion that our worth or value diminishes as we age.

“At a time when many are told to retire, slow down, or gracefully exit the stage, Mr. Parsons is as active and as vital as ever, and I think we can all learn something from that.”

While Parsons will be talking about his life, his job and our world in general, he has also opted to include a question and answer period, allowing the audience to set the pace for the event.

He will address many topics, such as leaving Global, moving to the island to work for CHEK-TV, signing on to co-anchor CBC News: Vancouver, watching the Stanley Cup Riots, and retirement.

“Mr. Parsons feels that if the audience is in charge of dictating the content of the questions then they ultimately get the information that they want,” said Blakeborough.

“We are fortunate that a true legend in Canadian broadcasting is coming to talk to us and answer the questions we have, and in such an informal setting. We are incredibly excited to be able to host Tony Parsons.”

The event will be followed by a reception, hosted by UFV chancellor Brian Minter.

For additional information contact CERA toll-free: 1-888-504-7441 local 2818, or email: cera@ufv.ca.
To RSVP, email  cera@ufv.ca .
For more information on UFV, visit its new blog: www.ufvtoday.ca .