George Stroumboulopoulos Named WFP Canadian Ambassador

From the moment affable television personality George Stroumboulopoulos slides into his big red chair and shoots the camera a smile, Canadians sit up and listen.

That's why the United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP) announced Stroumboulopoulos as the official 'Canadian ambassador against hunger' during the March 15 taping of 'George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight.'

The WFP provides emergency food assistance in the wake of disasters, such as 2010's floods in Pakistan.

As an ambassador, Stroumboulopoulos will shine a light on the problems, solutions and personal stories of people suffering due to devastation in the hopes of garnering Canadian support.

"We wanted to show our audience what's going on," he said at the taping. "If I can do that in this big red chair, then I'll do it all the time."On April 1, he'll spread his humanitarian spirit in a special feature that documents his recent trip to Pakistan. The special depicts a corrupt government, pressures from the Taliban and al Qaeda, and remaining water from last year's floods.

Strombo will also tell the personal stories of the people affected and those who affected him. For instance, he noted a young boy who tried to build a walkway after the floods wiped his town from the face of the Earth.

"That kid got there at six o'clock in the morning and stayed there all night," he said. "He's too little to pick up big rocks, but he picks up the little ones and he throws them onto the pile ... We need to be telling these stories."



Stroumboulopoulos' down-to-earth storytelling and passion for social causes is what earned him the ambassadorship, according to chief spokesperson for WFP in North America, Bettina Luescher.

"He's just a wonderful voice for us and a voice for the people who have no voice," she said.

Strombo is the latest in a long line of celebrities to partner with the UN, from Audrey Hepburn to Bono, which begs the question; will his celebrity do more harm than good?

Stephen Lewis, today's 'George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight' guest and Canada's former ambassador to the UN, believes Strombo will do him proud.

"George is not a self-indulgent celebrity. George is as forthright and direct a person as you will get. And everyone honors him and loves him for that," he said.

Stroumboulopoulos has already kicked off a social media initiative through WeFeedBack.org/strombo, where fans can donate to the cause. Even a small donation of five dollars can feed a child in school for a month, WFP says.

What's next after that? Stroumboulopoulos hopes to profile another country and continue to spread the word about WFP one show at a time.

"I always believe in the church of Bruce Cockburn," he said. "Just keep kicking at the darkness till it bleeds daylight. That's all we can do."