Tom Tompkins, following a battle with cancer. Tompkins spent his early years in Richmond Hill, ON before moving to Calgary in junior high where he eventually graduated from SAIT’s Television Stage and Radio program. Tompkins began his 43-year radio career in 1970 at CKXL Calgary. He went on to work at stations including CJAX-FM Edmonton, CFGM-AM Toronto, CHAM-AM Hamilton, CKRY-FM Calgary, the Pelmorex Radio Network, and CJAY-FM Calgary, which earned the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) FM Station of the Year honour during his time as programmer there. Tompkins was twice named Country Program Director of the Year by The Record, won three CCMA Awards for Country Music Person of the Year, and was given a JUNO Award in 1992 while managing Tracey Prescott and Lonesome Daddy, when they were named Country Group of the Year. He served on the CCMA Board of Directors for 15 years and as president of the association in 1991-92 and from 1994-2000. Tompkins was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2010.
Randy Snow, 61, on Aug.18 of natural causes. Hailing from Gander, NL, Snow started his broadcasting career in his hometown at age 16 at 650 CKGA. He moved to St. John’s in 1988 to join OZFM (CHOZ-FM), where he went on to work for 15 years and was best-known as host of “The Dawn Patrol.” In 2003, Snow began hosting the morning show on Hits FM (CKIX-FM), before transitioning to afternoon drive. He returned to OZFM in 2019 to host the “Morning Jam.” Snow and his co-host Stephanie O’Brien parted ways with the station last fall.
Ron “Buckshot” Barge, 88, on Aug. 17. Born in Trail, BC, Barge came from a large family that shared a love of music and storytelling. He started his television career at CJFB-TV in Swift Current, SK, and later CFQC-TV Saskatoon. From there, he moved his family to Calgary after landing a job with CFCN in 1961 as a cameraman and floor director. He was eventually asked to host new kids’ show, the “Buckshot Show,” which made its debut in 1967 and aired for 30 years. Barge attained local icon status with generations of kids with the show running during the lunch hour six days a week, featuring songs, sketches, birthday greetings, stories and cartoons. From 1992-97, it was broadcast Saturday and Sunday mornings. Barge was also known for playing piano in the house band at the Rimrock Room in Calgary’s Palliser Hotel and with the Stardells at the 400 Club for over 20 years. He donated his time to the Calgary Stampede Kids Day program for over 50 years, in addition to hosting telethons for Alberta Children’s Hospital, among other events.
Malcolm Bernard, 64, on Aug. 8. Prior to a career in communications, Bernard worked at CJAD Montreal, before joining Broadcast News (BN) in the late 1980s. He then moved to Ottawa to be Standard Broadcast News’ bureau chief, and later re-joined BN. He started doing communications consulting in the late ‘90s, working on high-profile projects, including the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. He served as Managing Partner of National Public Relations in Ottawa, before co-founding Interplay Creative Media in 2005, servicing clients including Indian and Northern Affairs, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and Global Affairs Canada. Bernard had also been pursuing work as a voiceover artist in recent years.
