TV host has found 'oasis' in Canada
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 22, 2005
JILL ANDREW for Metro Toronto

Host Roberto Hausman is trying to shed more light on Canada's diversity with his English-language program on A-Channel, Latin Life TV.

Hausman gets a chuckle out of Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty during an interview.

Roberto Hausman believes life can often feel like a hot, dry desert.

The solution, says the president of the Canadian Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, is everyone should create their own oasis, a special place "we must find to help us reconnect with life's little precious moments of fun, accomplishments and intrigue."

It's been 30 years since Hausman arrived in Toronto from his native Uruguay, first finding work in factories and door-to-door sales in his twenties.

He's come a long way since then, and so has Toronto's South American community.

"We have grown from a community of janitors and factory workers to a community of entrepreneurs, engineers, doctors and professionals," says Hausman, who is the host and executive producer of Toronto's first English-language television show devoted to showcasing Latino culture.

Latin Life TV, airing Saturdays at 8:30 a.m., is now on its third season on A-Channel. Hausman takes his camera crew out in search of the people, places and events that best represent Latin culture and life in Canada. Often sporting a sharp black tuxedo or a sports jacket and tie that could easily double as a wearable art conversation piece, Hausman proudly conducts his interviews in the moment without the help of a script.

"I like to be spontaneous. I learn from everyone I meet and my interviewees are no different. My questions and comments are based on what they say on the spot, " says Hausman, who especially likes interviewing politicians. He says he likes pushing them with spur-of-the-moment questions on their impressions of the Latin community.

With nearly one million Latino-Hispanic people in Canada, Hausman saw a need to shed light on the country's Latin culture.

"There was nothing like Latin Life TV being offered to either our Latin or mainstream audiences, particularly not on a medium as wide reaching as television," Hausman says. The half-hour program captures the stories of Latin arts & entertainment, music, community events, business and politics.

Along with interviews with local and international politicians, consul-generals, business leaders and celebrities, Latin Life TV covers annual events like the Hispanic Fiesta, Latin American Expo, Miss Latina Canada World, Canada's Wonderland Latin Festival, and the Hispanic Celebration of Literature & Culture.

"There is so much more to Latin life than just salsa so it's important that our show be a fun and informative blend of both business and pleasure," Hausman says.

The decision to speak in English on the program  came from Hausman's desire to connect his show with the mainstream audience.

"I didn't want it to be a small multicultural show showing on a small multicultural station. I wanted our message of diversity and success to be seen by everyone regardless of their ethnicity. We can learn from everyone, and a larger station caters to a larger audience which caters to breaking more stereotypes about Latin culture," Hausman says.

"One of my biggest dreams would be to have Latin Life TV airing on three major Canadian stations gracing the airwaves during those coveted evening night-time time slots," Hausman says.

Outside of hosting and producing Latin Life TV it is clear that Roberto Hausman doesn't mind missing sleep. "There are 24 hours in a day. I sleep for five and work for nineteen," he says.

If he's not hosting the show, travelling around the world on leisure, riding camels or elephants he can also be found moonlighting as a motivational speaker. Hausman offers tailor-made career planning, marketing, sales and management workshops ranging from two to 16 hours in length to both personal and corporate clients. One of his highly touted seminars is called "How to Feel Great All The Time (without sex and drugs)."

In this seminar, he helps participants rediscover their natural highs which in turn helps prepare them to seize their own oasis whether at work or at home. Hausman is also a celebrated, award-winning musician who has penned and performed over 150 songs with his group, Roberto's Latin Sounds.

"I do it all because it is fun and it inspires others to tap into their own oasis creating their own versions of greatness. Carpe diem … seize the day. Seize your day," Hausman says.

For more information, visit www.latinlife.tv

or www.robertocharles.com.

Latin Life TV airs on Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. on A-Channel (Channel 20).