On sunny weekday morning in the mid-1990s, I was sent to a house fire in downtown Toronto. When I got to the address, there was no fire, no firetrucks, nothing. A few minutes later, Boris Spremo arrived. After he, too, realized it was a false call, we started to chat on the sidewalk.
A police car quickly pulled up and the officer ran to the address to get a better look. The cop realized it was a false call and radioed back to his dispatcher. He then came over to Boris and I.
Now Boris and I were each wearing the obligatory photo vest, we each had two or three cameras dangling from our shoulders and we each had a two-way radio squawking away in our vest pockets.
"Are you two news photographers?" asked the police officer.
You have to know that Boris had a thick Yugoslavian accent.
Boris replied, "No, we turist. Which way to CN Towa?"
The surprised officer answered, "Well, welcome to our city!" and he proceeded to give us detailed instructions on how to get to the CN Tower.
Boris then put his arm around my shoulders and said, "Okay son, we go now CN Towa. Do picture."
The police officer wished us a nice day and we left.
(Much funnier if you knew Boris' voice and accent).
Boris worked at the Globe+Mail and Toronto Star from the 1960s to 2000. Add to this his book, "Boris Spremo - Twenty Years of Photojournalism" which, on the cover, had that crazy CN Tower construction photo that I still can't imagine shooting. He also did the photography for a few other books.
This means he probably inspired/influenced/helped a few decades-worth of Canadian news photographers, especially in the Toronto area. That equates to an entire generation of news photographers (1970s,1980s,1990s).
We were in the photo pen at some official function, waiting for then prime minster Brian Mulroney to arrive. When Mulroney walked by, he saw Boris and veered towards us.
"Hey Boris how are you?" asked Mulroney.
"Okay, prime minister," said Boris while shaking Mulroney's hand. "Now stand over there. I need picture."
Mulroney laughed and yelled, "Boris needs a picture!" He then went and stood in the middle of the arrival area while Boris snapped a couple of frames.
"Okay," Boris said, "Get wife."
Mulroney then called over his wife, Mila, and the two happily posed for Boris.
Maybe it was his voice or maybe it was his reputation but few people refused Boris' requests.
During a Toronto Film Festival, I believe Boris was sent to do a portrait of an actress in a hotel room. Her PR people said Boris could have only two minutes with her. Boris refused, saying he couldn't do his best work in two minutes. He turned and walked away.
The PR person and actress chased him down the hotel hallway, brought him back to the room and gave him as much time as he needed to do the pictures.