13 Facts About Royce Frith

Royce Frith received a BA from the University of Toronto, an LL.

An amateur actor and performer, Frith found time to act in plays, perform on the radio, and sing and play several instruments, while concurrently building his legal career.

Royce Frith successfully applied to the Board of Broadcast Governors in 1963 for a license to operate a new radio station in Windsor, Ontario.

Royce Frith was awarded a license to operate CKWW-AM but sold the station to Geoff Stirling before it went on the air.

Active in Liberal Party politics, Royce Frith was president of the Ontario Liberal Party from 1960 to 1961.

Royce Frith first came to prominence as a member of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism in the 1960s.

Royce Frith served as a legal advisor to the Commissioner of Official Languages from 1971 until 1977 when he was appointed to the Senate of Canada by Pierre Trudeau.

Royce Frith sat in the Upper House as a Liberal and served in various positions including Leader of the Opposition in the Canadian Senate and led the Liberals' filibuster against the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax forcing Prime Minister Brian Mulroney to use an obscure section of the Constitution to appoint extra Senators and ensure passage of the measure.

Royce Frith left the Upper House in 1994 to become Canada's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

Royce Frith had a very high profile and used his flair for public performance to his advantage, particularly during Canada's Turbot War with Spain in which he played a crucial role in rallying British public opinion behind Canada.

Royce Frith ensured the retention of Canada House in Trafalgar Square as the site of the Canadian high commission when the government had considered abandoning the location in order to save money.

Royce Frith returned to Canada in 1996 and resumed his law practice.

Royce Frith served on various boards including the Board of Trustees of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.