CHRISTIAN SALZEN (CHRIS)

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CHRISTIAN SALZEN

On July 29, 2021, at Victoria General Hospital, Christian (Chris) Salzen, a gentle and dignified man, passed away.
Chris was born on December 25, 1929 in Toronto, to Ernest and Gertrude Salzen. Both Chris's parents died while he was still a child. He and his sisters, Marjorie and Jewel, were taken to be raised by their grandmother in Cochrane, Ontario.
As a young man, Chris's work experience as a machinist at the Canadian National Railways roundhouse in Cochrane led to his passionate, life-long interest in trains and especially in steam locomotives.
Chris's love of literature and the printed word set him on the path toward his main career as a journalist. A chance encounter with a friend in Cochrane caused him to apply for a reporter position at the Timmins Daily Press. He was hired there and spent 10 months writing for that newspaper. While in Timmins, a fellow reporter suggested Chris consider studying for a year at the University of Western Ontario, to which he applied and was accepted as a mature student.
Chris spent three rewarding years as a Journalism student at Western. In his final year, he was chosen to be editor of the student newspaper. With Chris at the helm, the paper was named Canada's best university newspaper.
In 1957, Chris was hired as a reporter at the Winnipeg Free Press, where he worked until 1964.
In November of 1958, Chris had the good fortune to meet the woman he would marry a few years later in 1960. Genevieve (Gen) Horodyski was employed at that time as an RN at St. Boniface Hospital.
In 1961, Chris and Gen's son Tim was born and was joined in 1962 by daughter Cathy. In 1964, Chris was hired at CBC Winnipeg where he worked in radio and TV as a reporter and editor. He retired from the CBC in 1989.
Chris was a man with a wry sense of humour. He was passionately interested in music, reading, gardening, winemaking and travel. Chris and Gen travelled extensively across Canada and the United States, and throughout Europe.
He was particularly devoted to his family, was very proud of their accomplishments and delighted in being in their company. He had a strong belief in volunteering and did so for many organizations throughout his life.
Chris was rewarded later in life by his discovery of and connection with a large and diverse group of his cousins who resided then in various parts of England and Scotland.
He was predeceased by his parents and his sisters, Marjorie and Jewel (Don); his in-laws, Bill and Stella Horodyski of Beausejour; and his brother-in-law Leo. Chris is survived by his beloved wife Gen; daughter Cathy (Joel) and her children, Keith and Aro (Lexi); son Tim (Susan) and their children, Colin and Blair; sister-in-law Fran; many nieces and nephews and a host of dear friends.
Chris was a person of strong faith. He sang in the choir at St. Ignatius Roman Catholic Church for over 25 years.
A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Ignatius at a date to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations be made to CancerCare Manitoba Foundation.

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 07, 2021