Bill Gable, 69, suddenly on Sept. 18, of complications from chronic pulmonary obstructive disorder (COPD). Gable was best known as “Brother Bill” during his early years in broadcasting at CKLW-AM Windsor. Gable worked at some of the biggest stations on both sides of the border including KHJ Los Angeles, CFTR and CHFI Toronto, WLW Cincinnati and WOCL and WMMO Orlando, among others. He spent the final six years of a 46-year broadcasting career at Zoomer Radio (CFZM-AM) Toronto as host of The Happy Gang morning show, and retired in 2014. Listen to a 1974 “Brother Bill” CKLW aircheck here.
Maurice Boucher, 52, on Sept. 12. Boucher was the Canada Media Fund’s director of marketing and communications, starting in Jan. 2012. Boucher was instrumental in developing strategies to elevate the profile of Canadian content and promote CMF programs and initiatives. He was very proud of the development of Eye on Canada, celebrating Canadian audiovisual content, and the success of the Encore+ YouTube channel. Prior to CMF, Boucher was chief of public and media relations for Télé-Québec, in addition to a variety of other marketing and communications roles. He held various senior positions in some of Montreal’s most prestigious organizations, including the Canadian Centre for Architecture and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. He was also the first general manager of Destination centre-ville, the downtown Montreal commercial development association. Boucher was the recipient of the Canadian Public Relations Society Award of Excellence.
Peter Donat, 90, on Sept. 10 of complications from diabetes. Born in Kentville, NS, Donat emigrated to the U.S. in 1950 to study drama at Yale University, following in the footsteps of his uncle, British film and stage actor Robert Donat (The 39 Steps, Goodbye Mr. Chips). In 1961, Donat was featured in The Canvas Barricade, the first Canadian play to be performed at the Stratford Festival. His first television role came in 1965 when he was cast on Moment of Truth, a Canadian serial also broadcast in the U.S. He went on to guest star on shows like Mission: Impossible, Banacek, Mannix, Hawaii Five-O, Charlie’s Angels, Lou Grant, Hart to Hart, Hill Street Blues, Simon & Simon and Murder, She Wrote, among others. Donat also had a recurring role on The X-Files as Agent Mulder’s adoptive father. His film credits include The China Syndrome (1979), The War of the Roses (1989), Skin Deep (1989) and The Game (1997). Donat’s brother Richard is also an actor known for his roles on the TV series Haven and Emily of New Moon.
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