Beloved host Trebek loved Canada's landscape
TV host's love of Canada ran deep, says Alexander Cohen.
From beloved quizmaster to loyal son of Canada, Alex Trebek was a man of many calling cards, and a presence in the lives of millions. For me, though, and many other young people, he was a disciple of geography.
Trebek loved geography. Growing up in Sudbury, he pored over atlases and copies of National Geographic. “We couldn't always afford them,” he remembered. “But I made it a point to go to a lot of doctor and dentist appointments.” In 1989, he caught the eye of the National Geographic Bee, which invited him to host its inaugural competition, a geography contest like a spelling bee.
“I hope we're beginning a tradition here,” said Trebek when he opened the competition. He was more right than he could have imagined. Trebek would host the Bee, the Canadian Geographic Challenge and the international National Geographic World Championships, for decades. More importantly, he would become one of geography's greatest champions.
I met Trebek in 2011 as a member of Canada's team at the World Championships at Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. I was 15. It's no surprise that a geography competition is a good place to find Jeopardy! fans, and our excitement at meeting this titan of trivia may have been an even bigger thrill than the contest itself. He moderated the final round, a cage match between Canada, Russia and Taiwan. We won the silver medal.
Yet something else was afoot (literally). The night before the finals, as capitals and rivers danced in the minds of young nerds, a burglar had located a different kind of landmark: Trebek's hotel room. Half-naked, Trebek chased the thief down the hall, tearing his Achilles tendon. Yet Trebek didn't miss a beat, fulfilling his hosting duties in a cast and crutches the next day. He addressed the incident with his trademark grace and wit — and proved he was sharp as ever when he caught the Russian team cheating.
The same knowledge and humour that endeared Trebek to millions ...have inspired many young people.
Trebek's passion for geography — particularly Canadian — went beyond competition. He spoke often about the importance of geography in helping us understand one another. As honorary president of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society, he lent his money, celebrity and energy to the cause.
“Geography is about the future. History is about the past,” he said during a visit to Ottawa, when he was honoured with one of many awards. “Geography encompasses every aspect of your daily life without you realizing it.” In a country often said to have more geography than history, Trebek was a patriot.
In October 2019, I saw Trebek on his last visit to Ottawa, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Canadian Geographic Challenge with the previous champions. “We live in a period now of crisis for our planet,” he warned. “And it strikes me that geography is even more important now than it has ever been.”
Trebek proudly noted that the competition's alumni went on to become doctors, professors and even meteorologists. “I'm relieved that I haven't yet seen the headline `Geography champion goes on to become delinquent,' ” he quipped.
The same knowledge and humour that endeared Trebek to millions on Jeopardy! have inspired many young people to pursue their love of geography. The impact of this cardinal of cartography will be felt for generations.
That night last October, he let us in on a secret. “All those years hosting the world championships, I obviously had to appear neutral,” he recalled. “But secretly, I was always rooting for Canada.”