Award-winning sports broadcaster, Scott Russell, will talk all things Olympics when he appears as a guest speaker for the April
8 instalment of the Telling Our Stories speaker series in Haliburton.
Russell is a Canadian Screen Award and Gemini Award-winner. Speaker series spokesman, Barrie Martin, said their guest “has a few stories to tell about the Olympic games, past, present and future.”
The event is scheduled to be held at the Haliburton Highlands Outdoors Association fish hatchery from 7-9 p.m.
Russell recently appeared before the Future of Sport in Canada Commission and the National Summit in Ottawa.
Martin said, “sport is under the microscope right now because of various transgressions, but also because of the spectre of sports
gambling and an increasingly sedentary youth. The Canadian sports system needs a way forward. Scott has some opinions about
that.”
Russell brought nearly 40 years of experience, passion and knowledge to his role as co-host of CBC Sports Presents. In addition, his unparalleled enthusiasm for amateur sport shines through in every aspect of his work, Martin said.
After joining CBC Charlottetown in 1985 as a news reporter, Russell turned to sportsin 1986 and quickly established himself as a
talent. From 1988 to 1992, he was a sports reporter and anchor for CBC in Montreal until he moved to Toronto as a network
sports commentator.
The longtime host of the weekly show CBC Sports Presents, Russell has covered 17 Olympic Games for CBC, including seven as host, and also led the network’s coverage of six Pan Am Games, six Commonwealth Games, two FIFA World Cups and two FIFA Women’s World Cups.
In addition, Russell was a host and rink-side reporter for CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada for 14 years.
Also an acclaimed author of three books, Russell has earned numerous accolades throughout his broadcast career, including a Canadian Screen Award and Gemini Award with 15 nominations, a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his contributions to sports in Canada, the George Gross Award for Outstanding Broadcasting from Sports Media Canada, a Medal of Distinction from Toronto
Sports Hall of Honour and a CBCPresident’s Award in the Brand Champion category in recognition of his dedication and enthusiasm for his work covering amateur athletics for the network. He is an honorary board member of the Paralympic Foundation of Canada, an advisory board member for the International Centre for Olympic Studies at Western University, and is the fifth Chancellor of Nipissing University in North Bay, from where he holds an honorary doctorate (D.Lit.).
An active runner, Russell completed the Boston Marathon in 2005 and 2012. He lives in Toronto with his wife, Catherine. He was out of the country and unavailable for comment for this story.
Martin said it may be necessary to change venues if ticket sales warrant. Admission is $15/person. If you would like to book a seat you can do so online at https://tellingourstories.company.site/ or by email barrieinthehighlands@gmail.com, or phone 705.457.7557.
Russell will also be a guest at an April 11 fundraiser at the Minden Curling Clubfor the Minden Community Food Centre.
It features a three-course meal prepared by Aaron Walker, co-owner of McKeck’s Restaurant, and a conversation with Russell and Olympic figure skating bronze medalist Tracy Wilson.
