After a battle with Canada’s justice system that lasted nearly 50 years, Steven Truscott is once again stepping into the spotlight – but for a whole new reason.
The 68-year-old, who calls Guelph home, is opening up about life after jail, and how he’s giving back to his community.
Truscott was the youngest Canadian to sit on death row after he was convicted of murder back in 1959.
For nearly 50 years, Truscott and his family insisted he was innocent.
In 2007, he was acquitted of the crime, and settled in Guelph with his wife Marlene and their children.
“I sort of grew up through my kids,” he says. “Things that I never got a chance to do, I lived it through all of my kids.”
After a few years of public appearances, the Truscotts decided to step out of the spotlight three years ago for the sake of their children.
“I thought it was kind of time to let them live a more stable life,” he says.
But recently, they felt it was high time to give back to the community that rallied behind them.
So last year, they made the Guelph Humane Society their charity of choice.
“We couldn’t do the work that we do without people like this stepping up to the plate,” says Michelle Gellatly, executive director of the Guelph Humane Society.
The Truscotts are hosting the Furball Gala on Saturday at the University of Guelph.
“The pets can’t speak for themselves,” says Truscott. “So hopefully we can a little bit.”
