Latest NewsFitzroy Gordon, founder of G98.7 Toronto, dead at 65

Fitzroy Gordon, founder of G98.7 Toronto, dead at 65

Fitzroy Gordon, the founder and CEO of G98.7 (CKFG-FM) Toronto, who is credited with bringing radio reflective of the city’s Caribbean community to the airwaves, died Tuesday. He was 65.

Born in St. Andrew, Jamaica, Gordon arrived in Canada in 1979. His first foray into radio was on multicultural station CHIN where he started hosting a midnight to 6 a.m. call-in show that earned him the nickname “Dr. Love.” He also took turns as a cricket writer for the Toronto Sun and as a co-host on The Fan 590’s (CJCL-AM) World Sports Report.

He left CHIN in 1998 and started work to obtain a broadcast licence to serve Greater Toronto’s Caribbean and African communities. The proposed frequency, 98.7 FM, was met with opposition. Milestone Radio, the founder of urban station Flow 93.5 (CFXJ-FM), also had concerns about duplication.

After three weeks of testing in 2010, the CRTC finally gave Gordon’s Intercity Broadcasting Network approval to use the frequency over the objections of CBC, Rogers Media, Astral Media, Bell Media and Durham Radio.

On Nov. 28, 2011, G98.7 went live with the Jimmy Cliff hit “I Can See Clearly Now”, followed by a prayer by Gordon, before the show was handed over to hosts Mark Strong and Jemeni. The last two letters of the station’s call sign – CKFG – are a permanent tribute to its founder.

Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said Fitzroy’s work “created a platform for art news and culture unique to the GTA.”

“The station G98.7 has become a foundation of the community, bringing us together and providing a unique voice to the people in our cities,” Brown said in a statement.

Toronto Mayor John Tory said Gordon’s death is a loss for the entire city.

“He was a caring citizen who constantly showed leadership in the black community, but also took a keen, active interest in the advancement of newcomers to Canada and of the City of Toronto as a whole,” Tory said. “Fitzroy Gordon was a towering figure in our city who brought people together. His was a life of great accomplishment and contribution to our city but a life cut way too short.”


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Connie Thiessen
Connie Thiessenhttps://broadcastdialogue.com
Connie has worked coast-to-coast as a reporter, editor, anchor and host at CKNW and News 1130 in Vancouver, News 95.7 and CBC in Halifax, and CFCW Edmonton, among other stations. With a passion for music, film and community service, she led News 95.7 to a 2013 Atlantic Journalism Award and regional RTDNA award for Best Radio Newscast. More recently, she was nominated for Music Journalist of the Year at Canadian Music Week 2019. To report a typo or error please email - corrections@broadcastdialogue.com

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