On January 6, 2025, Tracey Friesen, surrounded by loved ones, passed away at VHS hospice in Vancouver, BC, at the age of 58.
Tracey is survived by her loving mother, Gloria Friesen, and daughter Gloria Burke. She leaves behind numerous extended family members and a wide circle of friends and colleagues.
She was predeceased by her brother Darryl and father Francis in 2018.
Tracey was born in Kitimat BC but spent the vast majority of her life in the Lower Mainland.
Tracey was a remarkable person whose presence made the lives of those around her bigger and better. She will forever be remembered for her adventurous and kind spirit, love of nature, and for affecting social change in both her personal and professional life
Please join us to celebrate the life of the wonderful Tracey Friesen.
We will be gathering in her honour from 1:00 -3:00 PM PST on Saturday, Feb 22nd. However, the venue is full.
If you want to attend the celebration virtually, please return to this page on Feb 22nd at 12:45pm.
Later that evening, there will be an additional live music and dance celebration in honour of Tracey at St James Square from 7-9:30 PM. St James Community Square 3214 W 10th Ave (there is limited parking, so transit is advised)
We look forward to sharing this day with you.
Please consider donating to the Tracey Friesen Impact Fund: https://www.storymoneyimpact.com/tracey-friesen-impact-fund
And if you have a story to share, please do so here, including posts that you have made on Facebook. We want to collect them in a book! https://www.newlywords.com/tracey-friesen
““Tracey brings her all to the work: an acute sense of the moment we’re living in and what we’re called to do as communicators and media makers; deep experience in what it means to produce compelling messages and stories; and a patient, richly engaging attentiveness that makes working with her a delight.” ”
““She has an intuitive grasp of flow, narrative arc, structure, sequencing and pacing. And helps you understand the perspective of your reader or audience. Tracey has done this for me twice; both times discovering something more beautiful out of the books I was writing than I had imagined.””
““Bright and fierce and devastatingly articulate, Tracey is a true asset to creators. She is a clear-thinker, a talented editor and she has that rare skill of being able to find the story in other’s intuition and feelings. I don’t know anyone who gives more thought to the potential of media to change things that need changing.”
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Experience
For well over 20 years I’ve been professionally immersed in storytelling, from screen-based media to radio broadcasting to the written word. It’s my calling – has been since poring over Nat Geo magazines in grade eight. I love it all. I’ve had my own material published, but I’m equally happy with a red pen in hand, polishing the work of others.
Malcolm Gladwell talks of the ten thousand hours needed to become skilful at a pursuit. I’ve invested that in the world of communications, through senior positions at major cultural and social-change organizations. Now I am keen to leverage my experience and my network to further support the sector. Messages, whether of urgency or inspiration, can’t have the societal impact intended unless they are compellingly crafted and widely heard.
For credentials, please click below or visit LinkedIn.
Recommendations
““She’s an energizing presence, wise and empathetic, and I’d recommend her wholeheartedly.””