Tracey Friesen, a champion for B.C. producers and advocate for media and social change, has died.

Friesen, the managing VP for the Canadian Media Producers Association’s (CMPA) B.C. branch, died on Jan. 6 after being diagnosed with cancer in September. She was born on B.C.’s Central Coast and raised in Deep Cove, with summers spent on Okanagan Lake. She spent her adult life in Vancouver.

Her career in media production spanned decades, where she was known for her commitment to the environment, social justice and her community.

“Tracey was a bright light for our organization. She was relentless in her belief in the power of media to drive positive social change, and as a leader, her optimism was truly infectious,” said Reynolds Mastin, CMPA’s president and CEO in a statement.

Friesen had been an executive producer with the National Film Board’s (NFB) Pacific Region Studio for 11 years, where she shepherded nearly 40 films. Some of Friesen’s producing credits include the documentaries Being Caribou (NFB, Screen Siren Pictures), Chi (NFB) and SacredSacred (NFB, Producers on Davie, Vision TV).

“As everyone who knew her can attest, she was a fantastic person, so full of energy and ideas and life, and her loss is keenly felt at the NFB,” said Suzanne Guèvremont, NFB government film commissioner and chairperson.

Outside of her producing work, she was the director of communications and engagement at the David Suzuki Foundation and a founding member of Vancouver’s Roundhouse Radio as its first director of programming. She was also the inaugural staff lead on the CMPA’s Sustainability and Climate Action Committee and was a board member for the Whistler Film Festival Society (WFFS).

“I have relied on her insight, advice and friendship for almost a quarter century,” said WFFS executive director Angela Heck. “It is a personal and professional loss that reverberates through our community now.”

Friesen was a “strong advocate” and “inspirational leader” to B.C.’s independent producers, according to CMPA-BC Branch Council chair Trevor Hodgson.

In 2016, she authored Story, Money, Impact: Funding Media for Social Change, a book intended to guide documentary filmmakers focused on social impact. That led to her founding Story Money Impact (SMI) in 2019, a charity aimed at maximizing the impact of Canadian documentaries.

“Tracey has been a colleague, friend, co-schemer, co-host, co-adventurer and dear one for over 25 years. Tracey played a big role in my life and we both had a passion for community, justice, the environment and fun,” said Sue Biely, SMI’s executive director. “I will miss my dear pal a whole heap, in many ways. And her spirit will continue to motivate my work and adventures with many shared loved ones and colleagues.”

CMPA will work with Friesen’s friends, family and colleagues in the coming weeks to find a way to “honour her deep and lasting legacy,” according to a statement from CMPA-BC.

With files from Kelly Townsend

Image courtesy of CMPA-BC