Rivers steps away from the keyboard; Connor Fraser will write a column on what his demographic thinks

By Pepper Parr

March 2, 2022

BURLINGTON, ON

 

We bid our Contributing Editor and long-time columnist Ray Rivers adieu and hope that he travels well.

Ray Rivers has been with the Gazette for at least eight years during which time he wrote an opinion column from a small L liberal perspective. He developed a following that kept him one his toes.  He also developed within the community, a better understanding on just what an opinion piece is.  There are some who still resent some of the stand Ray took.

Ray Rivers – who won the best that Trump would win`. I’ve been buying him good Scotch ever since.

It was my pleasure to stand behind him and support him every step he took.

He made a point of providing background links to support the positions he had taken.

In the years I have worked with Ray he became a friend, a colleague – someone who made my life bigger than it was before I met him at an event and knew before he knew that he would make a fine columnist.

We will hear from Ray again – right now he takes a break as he does his best to cope with the situation in Ukraine.  Ray covered a Canadian Army training camp while he was in  Ukraine and delivered a couple of hundred Canadian flag lapel pins made a number of friends as well.  Their safety is now top of mind for him.

Ray cannot be replaced; his time with us taught our readers that there is a place for opinions in a local on-line newspaper.

which brought me to Connor Fraser, a young man I met

A number of years ago I met Connor Fraser just before he left for the University of Toronto.  I fully expected the young man to do very well.

Set out below is some detail on just how well he has done.

Connor will write a column once a month, he wanted to be more frequent but it takes time to get into the habit of writing regularly – so once a week for now.

His first column will be on social media.

Connor was born in Hamilton in 1997, 1997 is a long-time resident of Aldershot.   He attended Waterdown Montessori School, Glenview Public School, Burlington Christian Academy and Aldershot High School, graduating in 2015. Passionate about the issues facing Burlington, Connor has volunteered for several local organizations and advocated to municipal leaders on building transit oriented, walkable communities. His career goal is to help Burlington – and Canada – navigate the challenges of transitioning towards a just and inclusive low-energy economy.

Connor Fraser

In 2020, Connor completed undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto, with a BASc. in Engineering Science and a major in Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Between 2018 and 2019, he worked as a member of the technology development team at Microchip Corporation (North San Jose, California) where he contributed to the design of computer memory for FPGA chips. While pursuing engineering studies, Connor volunteered for the U of T Human Powered Vehicles Design Team as a machinist and led the design of a rollover detection system for high-speed tricycles. During the summer of 2013, 2015 and 2017, Connor lived in Quebec thanks to support from the YMCA Student Work Summer Exchange, and the Explore Program and is decently proficient in spoken French.

Connor has returned to U of T to enrol in the dual Master of Global Affairs and Master of Business Administration program and is concurrently a Certified Financial Analyst Level 2 candidate.

He is a Senior Producer with “Beyond the Headlines”, a weekly public affairs radio show that airs on CIUT 89.5FM every Monday (October – April) between 11am and 12pm. CJUT is the student run radio station at the University of Toronto.

Connor describes himself as an integrative thinker who enjoys observing parallelisms within and between various subjects such as science & engineering, finance, psychology and international relations. In his free time, Connor enjoys throwing boomerangs, playing tennis, and hanging out with his amazing sister.

You’re going to like this guy.

 

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2 comments to Rivers steps away from the keyboard; Connor Fraser will write a column on what his demographic thinks

  • Joe Gaetan

    I did not always agree with Ray, but I valued the fact that he believed in what he was saying. It was then up to us to debunk what he said. That is freedom of expression and freedom of the press at its best. Thanks Ray and enjoy your travels.

  • Hans Jacobs

    I will miss Ray, for whom I have great respect, but look forward to reading Connor’s thoughts.