Seamus O’Regan

From a place of love

As co-host on CTV’s Canada AM, Seamus O’Regan is the master interviewer of myriad newsmakers including former US President Bill Clinton, Bishop Desmond Tutu and Conrad Black as well as four Canadian prime ministers. This time the tables were turned as, having just turned 40, he sat down to talk with Tempo Toronto about his life and loves.

St. John’s Newfoundland born Seamus O’Regan started his journalism career three decades ago. In the 70s – at the age of 10 – he was regional correspondent for CBC Radio. By 2007 he was the first journalist to be included in Canada’s Top 40 Under 40, and in Maclean’s 100 Young Canadians to Watch in 1999.

He studied politics in Dublin, marketing strategies in INSEAD near Paris, and received a Masters of Philosophy from the University of Cambridge. He worked with Environment Minister Jean Charest in Ottawa, Justice Minister Edward Roberts in St. John’s, and was policy advisor and speechwriter to the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, Brian Tobin.

In 2000, he joined the groundbreaking current affairs program “the chatroom”, great preparation to co-host Canada AM starting in 2002. Now, he is also in his third season of Bravo’s The O’Regan Files – telling artists’ stories.

Seamus is big on giving back, especially to the arts, and is on the boards of The Rooms, Katimavik, The Company Theatre, and works with Shallaway, Coady International Institute, Spread the Net and, more recently, joined the board of ArtBound. [Tempo profiles Jason Dehni and the Artbound organisation later in February.] When we met, Seamus was preparing to journey to Kenya to make a CTV documentary with Nelly Furtado about the work of Free The Children with Artbound (of which Seamus is Honorary Chair), together establishing art schools so that children can help support their families through the arts.

Seamus is in love with life and all of the people that surround him – all heartily reciprocated.

“I am in the best of all possible worlds.”

What’s one thing that few people know about you?

Not many people know that I almost became an actor. I did a lot of theatre when I was younger, and was encouraged then to pursue it. But I didn’t want it so badly that I was prepared to make sacrifices – I have great admiration for musicians and artists that take so many risks. I also happen to make great curries – I love hot food, and I’m a huge Sci-Fi movie buff.

What makes you unique?

I am very curious. I don’t think in silos at all, and I like to research the connectivity between things. I have always considered myself to be a good listener, too. It’s my curiosity that inspires me. I have the privilege of doing wonderful work in a job where I deal with new information, new situations and new people every day.

What is most important to you in life as you mature?

The people around me: I want always to be a good husband, a good son and brother, and a good friend. I have to say that I have one of the best jobs in the communication business. It never feels tired, and I am truly happy where I am.

What do you count as your biggest achievement?

Although interviewing is what I think I do best, my biggest achievement has been finding the person I married! It’s much easier to maintain life balance when you have a home that you really look forward to going to. My commitment to my marriage is an inner discipline, and spending time together is a priority for us. If I don’t get at least two nights at home during the week, then there’s a problem.

Tell us about your Bravo show, The O’Regan Files

It’s a wonderful release for me to get to talk to musicians and performing artists for a whole 22 minutes. We can really warm up and get comfortable in that time, and perhaps they will reveal something insightful that they may not have done in a shorter interview. The average time for Canada AM items tends to be three or four minutes.

How would you want your story to inspire others?

If you really want something, you have to work at it. I really wanted this [Canada AM] job, I’d watched it since day one, and worked diligently to get the co-host job. I started with a guest appearance on the show, and it came from there. It’s hard work, but it’s damn good work. [Seamus also described how the Canada AM team operates like a close-knit family, and assured me that it’s impossible to fake that.]

What about ArtBound?

This is an organization formed by a group of young Toronto professionals working with Free the Children to establish art schools, starting in sub-Saharan Africa. They approached me to be Honorary Chair and I admit I was hesitant to take on more work because I am on six boards already and I didn’t think African schools really needed this. But I quickly got the message that children can adequately support their families through art. It means a tremendous amount to me to be involved with Artbound.

What do you want your legacy to be?

I have amazing friends and a fantastic family. I want to be remembered by them all as a good husband, son and brother, a good friend, and wherever I went a good time was had by all.

Winner of Marcus Nance CD

The winner of the Marcus Nance CD, The Voice Next Door is Tempo Toronto member Abhishek Dugga. He correctly answered our two questions – where was Marcus born and which major newspaper reviewed Marcus so glowingly – California, and The Globe & Mail respectively.

Congratulations Abhishek Dugga. CD will wing its way to you via Canada Post in the next few days.

Thank you Marcus for sharing your talent with our readers.

Read our profile of Marcus.