George Stroumboulopoulos...The First

Growing up in Canada, most people got their fill of all-things entertainment from one of two sources - American television or Canadian Radio. It isn't surprising to know that most youngsters, teenagers and young adults chose the former to get their music fix. Canada had always seemed like the amateur version of what American TV had become - a high voltage, overly-sponsored delivery system of music that appealed to audiences who grew tired of hearing Anne Murray and Bryan Adams their whole life.

We had a few household names, however - Chris Shepherd, Erica Ehm, and a few other VJs from MTV wanna-be, Much Music. Heralded as "The Nation's Music Station," Much Music got a cozy deal from the CRTC who accepted an application from CHUM Ltd. stating that the music industry was much too small to sustain more than one music channel. Seriously. It is one of those facts the public knows nothing about - how the massive music industry couldn't possibly sustain more than one music channel, a fact that has finally been rebuked with the arrival of MTV Canada and other digital stations, at a time when the industry is actually shrinking. Go figure.

One individual who emerged from both radio and television is George Stroumboulopoulos, the grungy, highly articulate kid from Malton, Ontario who showed a casual intellect in all things music from his days at Edge 102.1 and afterwards during his stint at MuchMusic. Through a personality that was easy to digest for most Canadian youth, George connected with audiences in a way that no other VJ or radio personality had done before - with a style that wasn't classic Canadian. George was certainly no throwback; he was, and remains, the first of his kind in Canadian media - versatile, modern, likable - traits that have not been seen in Canada by a television personality. And for this blogger, George literally threw his life path to the nether regions of Canada. Namely, Weyburn Saskatchewan.

It happened three years ago, when George advocated for Canadian health care pioneer, Tommy Douglas, during the CBC's Greatest Canadian Contest. When Douglas won, I became more interested in Douglas' history and what he had accomplished for all Canadians. After sifting through countless online sources and reading Life and Political Times of Tommy Douglas, I coincidentally found a job listing for a reporter in Weyburn, the place where Tommy Douglas called home for decades of his long, illustrious life. I weighed the pros and cons of working in small town Saskatchewan, including the lack of hip hop, diversity and shade. Then, like a soul patch wearing sign from the glow of the CBC, I stumbled onto a rerun of The Greatest Canadian, with George once again appealing to my curiosity as to where Douglas called home for so much of his storied life.

I applied for the job, got hired and moved to Weyburn within the week. The snow is very Canadian - deep, cold and relentless - sort of like the media industry, to tell you the truth. I'd like to say I am writing this blog from the editor's desk at the Weyburn Review. Actually, no I wouldn't. The job lasted about 6 weeks, and I was fired because they would not let me travel to Regina after I had secured a media pass to watch Bill Clinton give a speech. The reason - I was to cover the arts and crafts at the Weyburn Daycare Center. No shit.

But, as that scoundrel Cassanova coined so long ago, I have no regrets. I recognized that while my decision to go was an independent one, the catalyst was a personality that I look up to - likely the first personality in media I have made that sentiment towards. Finally, Canada has within its media bowels a person who can deliver original commentary without wearing a grey comb over and powder blue suit. And while I am certain George would point out many strong journalists and commentators that came before him who also had that X factor, I could relate to none of them.

And what makes George a bit more of an anomaly in my own life, our paths have crossed at various, random times while I struggled finding my way in Toronto. There was the time when I was working at a small retail store on Queen Street West, struggling with a large dresser I was trying to carry into the store during closing time, when a dude took the other end and helped me bring it inside. Yep, that was George. Or the time when I accidentally bumped into him rather harshly at my favourite hangover breakfast place, Sneeky Dee's. He just smiled, and in true Canadian fashion, said "I'm sorry'. No worries bro, I was still drunk.

Or the time I mailed him a CD for his opinion, then sent a horrible, chastising email to him when got no response. A few days later he emailed me, apologized for the delay and gave an honest critique about a few of the tracks. Yes, I felt like a prick, so I emailed him back and apologized.

I've read about writers, authors, novelists and musicians running into those people who they strive to be like, or as successful. And while I have met various celebrities in random places, I never showed them an unworthiness or sheepishness, preferring to pretend to not know who they are and just making small talk. You'd be surprised what they give up. I've also interviewed several well known celebs and musicians for a few publications, including some that have sat on the couch on The Hour, but I am still just a cook.

So, thanks George. You make it possible for other Ontario kids to feel like they don't have to be like the established media in order to join them. You are the first of your kind, and I am hoping to follow those footsteps in the deep Canadian snow.