Remembering Fred
By John Swartz
Fred Larsen died in the evening of August 31. I am recalling the hundreds of times we spoke. From when he was a candidate for the Liberal Party, urging him to pay attention to some of the issues I thought important, to helping him work out how to create a public campaign when Sustainable Orillia was starting up, which turned into ‘Tip of the Week’.
Oh, and Fred helped me get SUNonline/Orillia off the ground.
Fred invited me to sit in on Huronia Cultural Centre meetings, even though I was not on the board. I was thankful because two or three years earlier I published a column outlining what I thought the former HRC should become, and the this new group was working toward almost exactly what I had written about.
I remember the first time we met at his office in Elmvale when he was head of the teacher’s union. I was there because there was a teacher’s strike, or about to be, and I was the one doing the story. He wasn’t cagey, but there were things he couldn’t say and I sensed he wanted to. He was gracious to answer the kinds of questions I was asking.
Then there was last year when Arts Orillia was having their big fundraising gala at the Opera House. I was only popping in to get some photos of the performances happening after dinner. Of course like most things, the event timing was late and dinner had not been served yet. I was standing next to the table Fred and Lois were sitting at and Fred said, “sit down, we had a cancellation so you might as well eat something.” So there I was, woefully under-dressed schmoozing with the folks at the table and having a good time I did not expect to have, thanks to Fred.
That was Fred, come join us.
And he was maybe too rational. I found his approach to things to be level headed, state the case, and let others decide to join in. No, brow-beating to get people on board to do things, no cajoling, just “here’s what I’m doing, can you help? Or, can you support? Or, will you join me?
This is a shortlist of Fred’s accomplishments in 2020, which is also the year was named Citizen of the Year: past president of the Orillia Kiwanis Club, president of the Orillia Vocal Ensemble Board of Directors, chair and founder of the Orillia Centre for Arts and Culture as well as chair of their program committee, treasurer of Sustainable Orillia, and an active volunteer for the Simcoe North Provincial Liberal Association.
Fred was also integral to setting up the first online Orillia Kiwanis Club Auction in response to the provinces indoor crowd size restrictions. He also assisted Sustainable Orillia with their first anniversary report, and electric vehicle promotions on Mississaga Street as part of the City’s See You on the Patio program.
This community lost a good man, a great man. Godspeed Fred. I am just one of many who will miss you.
There are no funeral arrangements available at time of publication.
(Image Supplied) Main: Fred Larsen, August 27, 1942 – August 31, 2026
