Remembered for their contributions to the broadcast, audio & screen industries

*Printed here in order of their publication in Broadcast Dialogue’s Weekly Briefing and including notices from Dec. 2023.

Dick Williams, 83, on Jan. 10. Williams, who earned the nickname “The Tall One,” got his start in broadcasting at age 16 in Kitchener. From there, he went to WSAI Cincinnati, while attending university, and by age 19 was doing mornings in San Diego. A program director stint in Sacramento at KROI followed, and then KEWB Oakland, before Williams returned to Canada and CFPL London in the summer of 1960 to host an evening teenage rock n’ roll show. A CBC affiliate at the time, he would come back on after the 11 p.m. news with the program, Journey Into Melody. Credited as one of the first DJs in North America to spin The Beatles, Williams also hosted CFPL-TV programs like Hootenany and Wing Ding. Following a format change at the station in 1967, Williams formed a production company that offered pre-produced and customized radio contests to stations across the country, before CFPL hired him back in 1972. He had taken a detour writing for an ad agency when he got a call from CJBK-AM London to take over afternoon drive. He went on to host mornings at CHLO and then middays at Q97.5 – which became EZ Rock (CKQM-FM). In semi-retirement, he split his time between Port Stanley, ON and Key West, FL, taking on voiceover work and running online station Southernmost Radio. With the help of his son D.J., an account manager with Corus Entertainment London, Williams returned to the CFPL airwaves in 2021 as the host of weekend program, Dick Williams’ Solid Gold Rock and Roll. Read more here.

Warren Beck, on Jan. 8. Beck began his broadcasting career in 1950 in his hometown of St. Thomas, ON as an operator at CHLO. In 1954, he moved to CHML Hamilton, where he worked as an op until 1962. Interested in gaining more experience in news, he eventually was hired in the newsroom at CJOY Guelph. While he briefly detoured to Indiana where he took a job anchoring television, he returned home where he was offered a reporting position at CHML. He was appointed assistant news director in 1970, before being promoted to news director. He remained in the position until 1985, going on to teach journalism at Mohawk College for a decade. Beck went on to run a media consulting company and served as news director on a part-time basis at CKPC Brantford. He was recognized in 2012 with the RTDNA’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Peter Puxley, 81, on Dec. 7. Puxley studied economics and geography at Dalhousie University, Clark University, Worcester MA, and, as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford. He went on to work for the CBC for 17 years, as a producer and editor at CBC’s Morningside, Business World, The World at Six, and The National before being appointed Parliamentary Bureau Chief in Ottawa. Following his journalism career, he worked at Canadian Policy Research Networks and the Canadian Council for International Cooperation. In 2009, NDP leader Jack Layton appointed him Head of Policy and Research for the NDP Caucus. Since 2012, he’d been writing, editing and consulting.

David Gell, 94, on Dec. 8. Born in Calgary, Gell developed an early passion for radio, landing a job at age 15 in the record library of a local station. Two years later, he was made an announcer, going on to work at seven stations in five years during his university years in Calgary and Edmonton, including CKUA. After graduation, he became the European Correspondent for CFAC Calgary, based in Paris. From there, he went to Luxembourg in 1955 as a summer replacement announcer for Radio Luxembourg where he quickly rose to Head of the British Department. He notably was the first British DJ to play Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel.” In 1957, Gell started freelancing as a presenter on both BBC radio and Radio Luxembourg, becoming the first Canadian DJ to be heard on the national broadcaster on programs including “Music for Sweethearts,” “Housewives Choice,” children’s show “Playtime,” and “Twin Beat.” He was tapped to host Granada Television quiz show “Concentration” in 1959, followed by “David Gell Meets…” Numerous television appearances followed. in 1977, Gell was offered the evening anchor position at CBC Calgary, also hosting arts shows, “Saturday Side Up” and “Sunday Arts.” He retired in the 2000s, continuing to work as a freelance voiceover artist and narrator and as an instructor at Mount Royal University.

Margaret Saundry, 97, on Nov. 23. Saundry joined CBC Winnipeg in 1959, starting as an accountant, but eventually took on the role of script assistant. Primarily covering sports, including the forerunner to the Canadian Football League, Saundry is considered a pioneer for women in sports broadcasting, holding senior roles at a time when few women worked in the industry. She moved to Toronto in the late 1960s, travelling the world as a network producer with CBC Sports to cover Olympic, Pan-Am and Commonwealth games. She retired from CBC in 1985 after 27 years with the public broadcaster. In 2013, Saundry was inducted into the CBC Hall of Fame. 

John Short, 86, on Jan. 11. A member of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame, a recipient of the Chester Bell Memorial Award for excellence in sportswriting, and the Fred Sgambati award for university sports coverage, Short was a host on Edmonton’s CFRN 1260 for a decade, a sports columnist for the Edmonton Journal for 21 years and did a stint serving as the Edmonton Oilers public relations director. Following his broadcasting career, he joined Alberta Sport Connection as Chair of the program that assisted athletes and not-for-profit sport and recreation organizations in obtaining financial support.

Terry McPhee, 68, on Dec. 29. An alum of CJIC Radio & TV and CKCY-AM in Sault Ste. Marie, McPhee began his career with CJIC-TV in production while still in high school in the mid-1970s, and later moved over to radio, working as an evening and weekend host. McPhee was familiar to local viewers as one of the hosts of the annual “Easter Seals Superthon” for two decades, which raised thousands for the region’s rotary club to fund services for youth with disabilities. Following his broadcast career, he went on to hold roles as the local General Manager for Coca Cola, Marketing Manager for the Ontario Lottery Corporation, and later GM of the Sault Ste. Marie Casino. 

Norman Jewison, 97, on Jan. 20. The Canadian-born director of Hollywood blockbusters like Moonstruck, Fiddler on the Roof, and In the Heat of the Night, got his start in theatre, writing, directing and acting while attending Victoria College at the University of Toronto. He subsequently moved to London, picking up work as a BBC actor, before returning to Canada to train in production for the launch of CBC TV in 1951. He went on to produce and direct numerous variety shows, specials and dramas, before being recruited by NBC in 1958 to work on Your Hit Parade and The Andy Williams Show. His film career was launched in 1962 when Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh’s Curtleigh Productions hired him to direct the comedy, 40 Pounds of Trouble. Jewison went on to form Simkoe Productions. 1965’s The Cincinnati Kid, starring Steve McQueen, proved to be his breakthrough, which was followed by five-time Oscar winner In the Heat of the Night in 1967. His most recent feature film was 2003’s The Statement, starring Michael Caine and Tilda Swinton. Jewison’s films have earned 46 nominations and won 12 Academy Awards. In 1999, he was recognized by the Academy with the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award. Other accolades include the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Directors Guild of America. He was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1982, and later upgraded to Companion status in 1992. He was inducted into the Order of Ontario in 1989. Jewison founded the Canadian Film Centre (CFC) in 1986, where Canadian storytellers could learn to master the medium of filmmaking and command a greater presence on screens around the world. Read more here.

Frank Cameron, 85, on Jan. 20, A staple on the Nova Scotia airwaves for more than six decades, Cameron had just retired from Eastern Passage, NS community radio station 105.9 Seaside FM (CFEP-FM) in November. Captivated by radio from a young age, while still in high school, he started hanging out at CKEC New Glasgow, which hired him after graduation. He went on to join CKCL Truro a year later in 1956. By 1959, he had moved to Halifax and CHNS, gaining notoriety as the station transitioned to Top 40 and resulting in a subsequent offer to host national CBC television program “Music Hop” and the local Halifax version “Frank’s Bandstand.” Cameron joined CBC full-time in 1967, contributing to both radio and television for almost 30 years until his retirement in 1995. Another 10-year stint at CHNS followed, before Cameron briefly stepped away from the mic, quickly recruited by Seaside FM station manager Wayne Harrett to volunteer on-air at the community radio station. Seaside FM marked his recent retirement with a four-hour “Frank Cameron Retirement Tribute” show. The station wrote in a statement posted to its Facebook page that Cameron’s passing leaves a void “impossible to fill.” Read more here.

Paul Morton, 85, on Jan. 17. Paul Morton, one of the original investors in CanWest Broadcasting, passed away Wednesday. He was 85. Morton, the son of Henry Morton, founder of the Odeon Morton chain of theatres in Winnipeg, initially went into the family business before applying for a licence to launch independent television station, CKND-TV Winnipeg in 1973, alongside tax lawyer and politician Izzy Asper, former journalist Peter Liba, and broadcast engineer Seymour Epstein. Asper and Morton went on to help rescue the fledgling Global TV, partnering with radio mogul Allan Slaight in an $11.2 million bailout. Slaight went on to trigger the partnership’s “shotgun” clause in an attempted takeover bid that ultimately saw Morton and Asper gain a controlling interest in the network. Morton would go on to serve as head of Global TV, until eventually he and Epstein parted ways with Asper in a bitter, protracted legal battle, each receiving $131 million for their 40% stake in the company. 

Nerene Virgin, 77, on Jan. 15. Starting out as a teacher before moving into acting, Virgin is best-known to a generation of ’80s kids for her role as “Jodie” on TVO’s Today’s Special from 1981-87, which also aired on Nickelodeon in the U.S. The Hamilton native was also featured on several episodes of Polkadot Door. Other acting roles included recurring parts on The Littlest Hobo, Night Heat and Ramona, among other series and feature film work. Virgin went on to work as a weather host and community reporter with CBC Ottawa in the late 1980s, hosted CFTO current affairs show Eye on Toronto, and by the mid-1990s was helming daily national current affairs show Coast to Coast for CBC Newsworld in Calgary. She eventually returned to Toronto as the launch anchor for national weekend newscast Saturday Report and then anchored for Newsworld International, until its dismantling in 2005. After leaving the CBC, she completed ESL (English as a Second Language) training and taught in China, in addition to continuing her anti-racism advocacy. Virgin was named one of Canada’s 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women in 2016. Read more here.

Nick Vandergragt on Jan. 25. Vandergragt was best known for his run as a late night talk show host on CFRA Ottawa, starting in 2002. He was among those caught up in a round of layoffs at the station in early 2016. Vandergragt had most recently been hosting “The Nick & Joe Show” podcast, alongside conservative commentator Joseph Ben-Ami, discussing politics and current events from a conservative point of view.  

Pamela Segger, 50, on Jan. 22, following a prolonged illness. Segger had a career in insurance, managing an investment advisory team at Merrill Lynch, before returning to Nova Scotia from Alberta in 2003 where she co-founded It’s Alive Theatre Co., and started the Phoenix Dance Studio. She went on to study feature film, graduating from UCLA’s Screenwriting program in 2010, going on to co-found Lunenburg Doc Fest in 2013. She served as its Executive Director and lead programmer for the last decade. Segger also served as lead consultant of the LDF Atlantic Canada Delegation, a year-round initiative promoting and creating professional development opportunities for Atlantic Canadian film producers and directors. She additionally was active with DOC Atlantic, helping launch the Documentary Organization of Canada’s Breakthrough Program, which gives BIPOC filmmakers a start in their filmmaking careers. Segger also served on the board of Women in Film and Television-Atlantic (WIFT-AT) and as Program Chair for WIFT-AT’s Women Making Waves conference. She received Screen Nova Scotia’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023. 

John Beattie, 65, on Jan. 11. By the age of 17, Beattie was working in the local CTV newsroom in Ottawa. Among other programs, he was the launch producer for the Sunday Edition with Mike Duffy and by the time he departed the station in 1992, was Executive Producer for the station’s news programming. Beattie went on to join ABC, traveling the world with Peter Jennings as his personal producer, supervising the production, editing and writing for his reports for “World News Tonight” and many ABC News Specials. He returned to Toronto after a decade covering international news stories like the Rwandan genocide, death of Princess Diana, and 9/11, for which he earned three Emmys and eight Peabody awards, among other accolades. After four years as an executive producer with Global News Toronto, Beattie joined the Office of Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty in 2008, taking the lead on the Ontario Olympic project. He moved on in 2012 to found JBT Media Solutions, his own independent consultancy offering reputation management, media and government relations.

Connie Sinclair, 77, on Feb. 2, after an ongoing battle with cancer. Sinclair, best known for her time as a news reader at CBC Radio in Toronto, was a third generation broadcaster as the daughter of former CJAD Montreal news director and Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ Hall of Famer Gord Sinclair Jr. and granddaughter of CFRB host, author, and “Front Page Challenge” staple Gordon Sinclair Sr. She anchored at Newstalk 1010 (CFRB-AM), before joining CBC Toronto. Sinclair dedicated herself to animal welfare causes outside of her journalism pursuits.

Rick Howe, 69, on Jan. 31. An army brat, who grew up on bases in Canada and Europe, Howe started pursuing his passion for radio in rural New Brunswick, landing his first professional job at CKNB Campbellton in 1972. From there, he joined CFBC Saint John as a reporter before moving on to CJCH Halifax in 1978 where he served initially as a reporter, then news director, and eventually as host of the “Hotline.” Following the station’s move to an all-sports format, Howe took his last Hotline call in 2008 and shortly thereafter joined Rogers Sports & Media news/talk station News 95.7 (CJNI-FM) Halifax (now CityNews). Following some health issues, he stepped away from his morning talk show in May 2021 and officially retired in September of that year. Howe was awarded the RTDNA’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. Read more here.

Ron “Woody” Wood, 81, on Jan. 17. Wood had his sights set on studying veterinary medicine when he was offered a job at CKMP-AM Midland, ON, and apparently flipped a coin and accepted the offer. He arrived in Ottawa nine months later, getting his start as a news reader at CKPM-AM. By 1965, he was the station’s Parliamentary correspondent and was later named Bureau Chief for United Press International Radio. He also worked as eastern Ontario stringer for the Globe & Mail and did voiceover work for commercials and documentaries. In 1967 he left radio for a job at what was then CJOH-TV News in Ottawa. In 1971, he was promoted to the position of Promotions Manager and then Director of Creative Services, a position created for him where he was responsible for on-air promotion, corporate public relations, commercial production, sales and viewer community relations. Wood eventually returned to Calgary, serving as News Director for CKXL and CHFM until 1989. In 1990, he went to work for Reform Party leader Preston Manning as his press secretary and communications advisor, and later served as executive assistant and communications advisor to Opposition Leader John Reynolds, in addition to communications assignments for Stephen Harper during his tenure as Leader of the Opposition. Wood published “And God Created Manyberries” in 2007, which was Shortlisted for the Howard O’Hagan Award for Short Fiction and the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal.

David Pate, 64, on Feb 9. Pate’s journalism career started in 1978 at the Tullamore Tribune in County Offally, Ireland when a summer job turned into a three-year stint as a reporter. From there, he joined RTE in Dublin as a reporter, program editor and host of “Newsnight.” He landed at CBC Nova Scotia in 1989 and would go on to spend the next 31 years there as a producer and host. He retired from the public broadcaster in late 2020, ending his tenure as senior producer of regional radio call-in show “Maritime Noon.” Over his four decades in journalism, Pate reported from more than two dozen countries. Since 2022, he’d been hosting the National Anthems: The Worst Songs in the World podcast, exploring the history of national anthems.

Wally Kirk, 86, on Feb. 6. After attending Ryerson University in Toronto, Kirk started his broadcasting career at CFRN Edmonton in the late 1950s. Kirk detoured to Vancouver and Toronto to focus on advertising, before returning to Edmonton in 1974, joining new entrant to the television market, ITV (now Global). Kirk served as VP of Programming from the time the station signed on until his retirement in 1999.

Jack Gillespie, 80, on Feb. 6. Gillespie spent the bulk of his broadcast career with CKNX Wingham, ON, rising through the ranks from an account rep to sales manager and eventually General Manager. Among other station initiatives he helped spearhead was the first-ever CKNX “Health Care Heroes’ Radiothon” in 2003, which has gone on to raise more than $14 million for area hospital foundations.

Terry Middleditch, 66, on Dec. 5. After studying Radio Broadcasting at Fanshawe College, Middleditch started his long sales career at CKTB St. Catharines. From there, he joined CHYM and CKGL Kitchener, before heading west to Alberta in 1984 – first as an account manager at CISN Edmonton, followed by a 12-year run at Country 105 (CKRY-FM) Calgary. A five-year stint at Astral’s Classic Country AM 1060 (CKMX-AM) followed, before Middleditch moved into event marketing and sales under the banner of his own company, Rational Media, working with National Finals Rodeo, Canadian Finals Rodeo, Professional Bull Riders (PBR) and Calgary Stampede, among other events.

Norman Fetterley, 74, on Nov. 23. A natural public speaker, Fetterley began his broadcast journalism career at CJRN Radio in Niagara Falls in 1967, before moving on to CKTB St. Catharines. He forayed into television in 1972 at CHFD Thunder Bay. From there, he pursued opportunities at CFTO Toronto and then moved with the station to Ottawa to cover Parliament Hill. He joined CJOH-TV Ottawa in the same role in 1983, where he stayed until 1997. Among the regular segments Fetterley was known for was the long-running “Gallery Talk,” featuring a panel of correspondents on the week in politics. He retired from CTV Ottawa in 2013 after more than 45 years on-air.

Heath Mulligan Muggli, on Feb. 18. After attending the Western Academy of Broadcasting, Mulligan got his start with Rawlco Radio as a DJ, before transitioning into sales with the company. In 2002, he joined Saskatoon city magazine, Planet S, as a co-owner in addition to working in sales with Prairie Dog Magazine. He joined Saskatoon’s StarPhoenix as Media Sales Manager in 2019, before returning to his radio roots in April 2023 as a Media Marketing Consultant with Harvard Media in Saskatoon. In addition to his work in media sales, Mulligan was a well-known baseball umpire and member of the Saskatoon District Baseball Umpires Association. He was the inaugural recipient of the Quinn Stevenson “For the Love of the Game” award in 2020.

Vince Gallant, 88, on Feb. 13. Gallant began his 65-year broadcasting career in radio on his native Prince Edward Island in the 1950s. Stops in Nova Scotia and Montreal followed, before Gallant arrived at NTV News in St. John’s, NL as News Director in the 1970s. He then did a stint at CJYQ, before landing at VOCM, where he went on to anchor for the next 35 years. He retired in 2019. Gallant was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the RTNDA in 2005. 

Bryan Smyth, 91, on Feb. 3. Smyth began his broadcasting career with CBC Radio in Windsor, later joining CBC Ottawa in 1960. He spent the next three decades as a familiar on-air personality, best known for his almost 30-year run as host of “Reach for the Top.” He also hosted CBC Ottawa television shows “Platform” and “Review,” as well as the morning show and “Gotcha” on CBC Radio. For many years, Smyth was also the face of CBC’s national Canada Day and Remembrance Day broadcasts. A frequent emcee of community and charity events, he could also be seen in local Orpheus Musical Theatre Society productions.

Jim Rae, 83, on Feb. 2. Originally from Calgary, Rae and his wife relocated to Winnipeg in 1966 when he accepted an on-air position as the farm commentator at CBC Radio. He went on to host the call-in show “Questionnaire,” in addition to hosting dozens of election forums, among other special events. He retired from CBC in 1996, but continued writing an ag column for rural newspapers published right up to the week of his passing. Rae also served as a reporter for “The Canadian Farmer” on CTV and as a consultant ahead of CBC’s launch of its “Country Canada” specialty channel. He was a lifetime member of the Manitoba Farm Writers’ Association and the Manitoba Community Newspapers Association.

Bill Cunningham, 91, on Jan. 31. Originally from Yarmouth, NS, Cunningham embraced journalism at a young age, writing a weekly high school column for the Moncton Times & Transcript as a teenager. He worked in local radio in New Brunswick and then with Broadcast News, before joining CBC. Cunningham helped coin the name of flagship evening newscast “The National” where he served as executive producer in the 1960s. He covered the war in Vietnam for the public broadcaster in the late 1960s, getting captured by the North Vietnamese Army while attempting to document their presence in Southern Cambodia. He was promoted to head of CBC News in 1972, where he helped pioneer the concept of journalist-anchors, but left shortly thereafter in 1974 to become Vice President of News for the Global TV network. He was recruited to CTV in 1980, initially as executive producer of W5 and then as a host, reporter and managing editor. After getting laid off by CTV in 1991, he returned to CBC as a foreign correspondent and documentary host. Among other accolades, Cunningham was recognized with a Gemini Award for lifetime achievement and an Honorary Doctorate from Ryerson University in 2009.

Marguerite Falk Callegari, 93, on Jan. 28. Callegari began her career with CBC Vancouver in 1963 as a summer relief switchboard operator. She was promoted to Head of the Switchboard Department where she worked until 1975 when she transferred to the TV Programming Department as a senior clerk, handling the scheduling of the script and production assistants, assisted the unit managers, and worked for the Executive Producer, TV Drama, Philip Keatley. Callegari retired from the public broadcaster in 1989.

Jack Little, 83, on Feb. 26. Little worked for CFRN-TV Edmonton (now CTV) for 27 years, initially in sales beginning in 1967, before spending a decade as station manager. After departing the station in 1994, Little went on to serve as Executive Director of the Edmonton Heritage Festival for 13 years. He retired from helming the event in 2015. His volunteer work extended to the Western Association of Broadcasters (WAB), United Way, Northern Alberta Better Business Bureau, and Edmonton Community Loan Fund, in addition to serving on the boards of the Edmonton Food Bank, Greater Edmonton Foundation Seniors Housing and Our House Addiction Recovery Centre. 

James Murray, 59, on Feb. 24 of cancer. Remembered as an incredible storyteller, Murray began his reporting career with CBC News in 1997. Over the course of his 25 years with the public broadcaster, he worked with every major news program, including The World at Six, The National, World Report, CBC News Network, Morningside and Infotape. Holding roles from reporter to producer and host, he spent an extensive period of time covering the war in Afghanistan for CBC News. Murray retired in 2021 and moved to Nova Scotia to focus on his fight against cancer. Just months after retiring, he came back to work on a casual basis as a reporter and host from his at-home studio in Windsor, NS. A supportive and encouraging mentor to many colleagues, his work continues to be used in training courses for new journalists.

Paul Houde, 69, on March 2. Houde had a long career in Quebec media, starting out as a radio host in 1975 at Montreal’s CKAC 730. He went on to host more than 600 radio shows, heard on stations including 98.5 FM (CHMP-FM), CKMF-FM and Rythme FM (CFGL-FM). He briefly returned to radio last fall on the BPM Sports network, but left on the recommendation of his doctor. Over the years, Houde also appeared in the series “Les Boys,” among other TV and film roles, in which he played a goalie able to prolifically recite player stats.

Ron St. Hilaire, 75, on Feb. 29. Under the on-air pseudonym of Ron Hill, St. Hilaire covered news and sports for Vancouver’s CKVN (CFUN) in the early 1970s before heading to Winnipeg and CFRW in 1980 where he served as News and Sports Director. A move to CJOB Winnipeg followed. In 1993, St. Hilaire transitioned out of broadcasting to teach Journalism, Marketing and Public Relations in Red River College’s Creative Communications program. He went on to work in communications for Misericordia Health Centre and Director of Development for the Misericordia Health Centre Foundation. Since 2007, he’d been consulting under the banner of his own company, Hill Media Solutions.

Dave Renaud, 50, on Feb. 25. Renaud worked as a camera operator, editor and producer for CTV, CBC and Cogeco over a 25-year period. He had most recently been serving as a producer at Cogeco community channel YourTV for the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires. The Spitfires dedicated their Feb. 29 game to Renaud.

David MacLeod, 69, on Feb. 24. MacLeod’s foray into film began in catering on film and television sets in Alberta, before moving into a production manager role and his first credit as a Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) member on CBC series North of 60. He joined that series’ producers Wayne Grigsby and Barbara Samuels in Nova Scotia to produce CBC series Black Harbour, choosing to settle in nearby Chester, NS. MacLeod was a partner in Big Motion Pictures, alongside Grigsby, producing numerous series including Call Me Fitz and Haven. More recently, he’d produced two seasons of the TV series Pure for CBC and Hulu. MacLeod was a founding board member of Screen Nova Scotia and had also served on the board of the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA).

Eleanor Collins (née Procter), 104, on March 3. Known as Canada’s “first lady of jazz,” Collins was the first Canadian woman and Black entertainer to have her own national television show, “The Eleanor Show” on CBC TV. Born and raised in Edmonton, she was a natural talent, starting her career singing with a dance band in Edmonton and on CFRN radio. She moved to Vancouver in the late 1930s, going on to sing from 1940-42 on CBC Radio with the gospel group Swing Low Quartet, which included her sisters Ruby Sneed and Pearl Brown. A long association with the CBC followed, which included performances on “Serenade in Rhythm,” broadcast to troops overseas. She made her television debut on CBC Vancouver variety show “Bamboula: A Day in the West Indies,” the first Canadian series with a mixed-race cast and the first live music television show to be broadcast from the West Coast. The Eleanor Show debuted in 1955, with Collins appearing on numerous other TV and radio shows through the 1950s and ‘60s, including as a frequent guest on the popular “Juliette” and “Quintet” with the Chris Gage Trio. From 1963-64, she was a regular on CTV’s “Network.” Her second TV series, “Eleanor” aired in the spring of 1964, featuring show tunes, standard pop songs and contemporary hits. Collins was a Member of the Order of Canada and BC Entertainment Hall of Fame. Canada Post released a commemorative stamp in her honour in 2022.

John Newsome Gibson, 98, on March 2. Raised on a farm in rural Manitoba, Gibson started his working life at Standard Aero Engine in the Accessories Overhaul Department, before joining Winnipeg’s CKY Radio which became a career defining moment. Gibson went on to become part of the engineering team that helped launch CBC TV (CBWT) Winnipeg in 1954 out of the public broadcaster’s new 50,000 sq. ft. facility at 541 Portage Avenue. He eventually ascended to the role of Director of Technical Operations. In 1983, he retired from the Regional Engineering Department, where his attentions were largely focused on studio design.

George Garrett, 89, on March 18. Raised on a farm near Chaplin, SK, Garrett got his start in broadcasting at CJNB North Battleford in 1954, before a short stint at 800 CHAB Moose Jaw, where he had auditioned years earlier as a 15-year-old. By age 20, he had joined CKNW in New Westminster, BC, where his 43-year run with the station began in 1956. His dogged pursuit of local stories in the Lower Mainland and insatiable curiosity earned him a reputation as an “Intrepid Reporter,” the title of his 2019 memoir. Garrett was known for his risk-taking and willingness to go undercover to get a scoop, including baring it all to get an interview with a local nudist colony. Among other big stories, he became an authority on the Clifford Olsen child serial murders in the early 1980s and was infamously a victim of an assault during the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles in 1992 that left him with a broken jaw and subsequent titanium plate. He retired from the station in 1999. Over the years, he received many accolades for his work, including the Jack Webster Foundation’s Bruce Hutchison Lifetime Achievement Award. Read more here.

Andrew Martens, 91, on Feb. 21. Martens spent the early part of his career with CBC as a producer, working on broadcasts from Hockey Night in Canada and the 1972 Summit Series to touring with the Irish Rovers producing their overseas specials and coordinating the public broadcaster’s coverage of the Royal visits. After retiring from the CBC, Martens undertook numerous entrepreneurial ventures with his children ranging from real estate development to running a chain of optical stores and a hotel.

“Rockin’ Robin” McMillan, on March 20. A founding member and drummer of “The Rising Sons” who appeared with The Rolling Stones, among other groups in the ‘60s and ‘70s, McMillan went on to be known as “Rockin’ Robin” on the former CING Radio FM108 in Burlington, ON, where he was on-air from 1979-89. He went on to join the Canadian Satellite Network. When it ceased operations in the early ’90s, he continued his career with stints at CJRN Niagara Falls, CHML Hamilton, CHSC St. Catharines and CHWO (AM 740) Oakville. Following radio, McMillan was a fixture at oldies dances throughout Southern Ontario with his Rockin’ Robin Disc Jockey Service.

Bruce Hogle, 95, on March 29. Hogle followed his father into journalism, starting out at the Prescott Journal and the Sudbury Star where his dad was editor, as well as the local radio station in Sudbury. The family moved to Medicine Hat in the late 1940s where he once again went to work for his father as a sports editor with the Medicine Hat News. He went on to join the Winnipeg Bureau of the Canadian Press as a staff writer, serve as editor of the Trail Daily Times, and then news director for CKRM Radio in Regina. In 1965, Hogle’s father passed away after moving to Edmonton to set up the newsroom for Sunwapta Broadcasting’s new television station. He was asked to step in at CFRN-TV and take over his father’s role as Manager of News, Sports and Public Affairs. Throughout his 30-year career with Sunwapta, Hogle produced thousands of radio and TV editorials, particularly drawn to injustice and fighting for society’s underdogs. In 1967, he produced the documentary “What About the Victim,” detailing issues faced by victims of crime. It prompted the creation of the Alberta Crimes Compensation Board, the first of its kind in Canada. His investigative work in the 1970s exposed landlords taking advantage of renters during economic boom times, leading to rent controls. In 1973, he initiated opening up Alberta’s legislative proceedings to live television coverage. In 1981, he also launched “Wednesday’s Child,” a regular feature to find families for difficult-to-adopt children with physical, mental and emotional handicaps. Hogle was also a supporter of women in broadcasting, instrumental in opening the door for Western Canada’s first female news anchor, Daphne Kuehn. He retired from the station in 1995. Hogle was inducted into the Alberta Order of Excellence in 2011, the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) Hall of Fame in 2007, and the Order of Canada in 1998.

“Big Don” Biefer, on March 29, following a long illness. “The Beef” was a mainstay on southern Ontario radio for two decades, starting in the late 1960s. Among his early stops were CKLB Oshawa, CJSS Cornwall, CHIC Brampton, and CKLC Kingston. By 1971, he had landed at CKFH Toronto to do overnights, the first of three stints at the Top 40 station. He left for two short-lived morning show stints in 1973, one at WOLF Syracuse, New York and the other at CHSJ Saint John, NB. He moved on from CKFH for good the following year to join CHAM Hamilton. The remainder of the ‘70s saw him split his time between CFTR Toronto and FM 108 (CING-FM) Burlington where he stayed until 1988. Following his radio career, Briefer owned and operated ProDJ, a Brampton-based disc jockey service.

David Nevett, on April 2. Nevett was serving with the Royal Air Force (RAF) Services Personnel when he joined the Aden Forces Broadcasting Association (AFBA) in Aden (now south Yemen) in 1965 as a news announcer and writer. Within two years, he had joined BRMB in Birmingham, England as an announcer and sales manager, the first commercial radio station outside of London. He eventually landed at CFRN-AM Edmonton in sales and participated in remote broadcasts, including the station’s Search for Talent broadcasts, which saw a crew tape shows across central and northern Alberta every weekend. After a brief detour to work with Oxford Developments, he returned to radio and CKXM-FM Edmonton as manager in the 1980s. Following his broadcasting career, Nevett established security business, Lionsafe Security Pro.

Robert MacNeil, 93, on April 12. Born in Montreal and raised in Halifax, MacNeil graduated from Carleton University in 1955. He worked at CBC throughout the ‘50s as both a radio and television host, including weekly children’s show “Let’s Go To The Museum.” From there, he joined ITV London, then Reuters and NBC News as a correspondent in Washington, D.C., and New York City, and eventually began covering American and European politics for the BBC. In 1971, MacNeil started hosting Washington Week in Review on PBS. He won an Emmy Award for his coverage of the Watergate hearings. Alongside Jim Lehrer, he analyzed some 250 hours of hearings, leading to the creation of The Robert MacNeil Report in 1975, later renamed The MacNeil/Lehrer Report and The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour. MacNeil retired from the nightly program in 1995 after 20 years to write full-time, but remained involved with the program until 2013 under the banner of MacNeil-Lehrer Productions. MacNeil was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1997, was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1999, and made a member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences in 1991. He received the RTDNA’s Paul White Award in 1990 and the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism in 2008.

Lou Cooper, 83, on April 10, at Prince County Hospital in Summerside, PEI. Cooper began his 50-year career as a journalist and news producer in Australia. A Melbourne native, he started his career in 1955 as a cub reporter for The Sun in Sydney, a reporter for TV Week, and a writer for ABC Television (Australia Broadcasting Corporation) in Tasmania. He began directing newscasts for ABC TV in Melbourne before leaving Australia in 1970. He joined CBC Toronto as a news production manager and assignment editor for a decade, before heading stateside to CBS News where he worked as a senior foreign producer in New York, as well as assistant bureau chief for CBS’ London bureau. From 1987-97, he held roles with both CBC and CTV, based in Toronto, as a foreign news editor, news producer, and resources manager. He went on to serve as president of News World International until 2004 when he and his wife retired to Prince Edward Island.

J.R. Reid, 74, on April 10. Reid is best known as one of the longest serving announcers on the original CFNY 102.1 in its Spirit of Radio era. Reid hosted middays on the station from 1978 to 1987, eventually falling to a round of budget cuts. Following CFNY, Reid was heard on Mix 99 (CKFM-FM) Toronto, where he worked part-time until 1992. 

Remembering Bob Cole, the soundtrack of hockey ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Gf5cqtKkTU

— Hockey Night in Canada (@hockeynight) April 27, 2024

Bob Cole, 90, on April 24. Captivated as a youth by renowned play-by-play broadcaster Foster Hewitt, Cole started his broadcasting career in his hometown with VOCM-AM St. John’s, NL, moving over to CBC Radio in 1969. He was the radio voice for the 1972 Team Canada-Soviet Union Summit and while Hewitt made the now-famous call of Paul Henderson’s goal on TV, Cole did the same on the radio broadcast. He moved into television in 1973 and when Bill Hewitt retired, Cole became the play-by-play voice for Hockey Night in Canada on CBC games involving the Toronto Maple Leafs. Cole was the primary play-by-play announcer for HNIC from 1980-2008, until he was replaced by Jim Hughson. He was also a staple during the Stanley Cup playoffs and handled play-by-play for multiple Olympic match-ups as well as the World Cup of Hockey. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996 as the recipient of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for broadcasting excellence. In 2007, Cole won his first Gemini Award for Sports Play-by-Play. He was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2016. More recently, he was recognized with the Canadian Screen Awards’ Lifetime Achievement honour in 2022. Read more here.

Al Shaver, 96, on April 22. After graduating from the Lorne Greene Academy of Radio Arts in 1948, Shaver had a long play-play-play career across both radio and television with stops at CJOY Guelph, CJCJ Calgary, CHAT Medicine Hat, CFRN Edmonton, CKGM Montreal, CKWW Windsor and CKEY Toronto. In 1967, he headed stateside to become the original play-by-play voice of the Minnesota North Stars for all 26 seasons, first with WCCO Radio and later KSTP-AM and WAYL-AM. He opted to stay in the Twin Cities when the team moved to Dallas in 1993, calling University of Minnesota men’s hockey before his retirement in 1996. Among other accolades, Shaver was inducted into the media section of the Hockey Hall of Fame and Minnesota Broadcasting Hall of Fame, He was awarded the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award in 1993. The press box at Xcel Energy Center, home of the Minnesota Wild, bears Shaver’s name. His son, Wally, and grandson Jason followed in his footsteps as sportscasters.

Stacey Brooks, 50, on April 22 after a battle with breast cancer. Brooks worked in entertainment marketing for the better part of the last two decades, most recently as Director of Marketing at Super Channel, which she joined in July 2023, following 16 years at Bell Media. Among the senior marketing roles she held at Bell were Senior Manager, Marketing Communications and Customer Acquisition and Senior Marketing Manager, Bell TV. Originally from Scarborough, ON, prior to working in entertainment, Brooks held roles with software and tech solutions providers including Chancery Software, Creo, and Sonar Group. Read more here.

Peggy MacDonald, 69, on May 12. MacDonald’s media career spanned 50 years, starting as a reporter with the Cape Breton Highlander newspaper in the 1970s. Holding roles from columnist to reporter and producer, among MacDonald’s radio stops were CHNS Halifax, and CJCB and CHER in Cape Breton. She also wrote weekly entertainment column “Night Side” for the Halifax Chronicle Herald. MacDonald went on to work as an editor and executive producer at CBC Cape Breton for 18 years. She retired from the public broadcaster in 2018.

Rex Murphy, 77, on May 9 of cancer. Hailing from Placentia, NL, west of St. John’s, Murphy studied law for a year at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar after completing his undergrad in English at Memorial University, before embarking on a career in media. Murphy began appearing on CBC properties like Newfoundland and Labrador’s “Here and Now,” gaining a following for his commentary on politics, including tussles with politicians like Premier Joey Smallwood. After working as an executive assistant to Newfoundland Liberal Party leader Clyde Wells, who would go on to become premier, he unsuccessfully stood for election twice – once for the Liberals and once for the Tories. He was perhaps best known for his regular commentary and documentary work for CBC’s “The National” that spanned pieces on William Shakespeare and Conrad Black to tackling issues like the Newfoundland cod fishery, Canada’s role in Syria, and federal subsidization of big business. A regular host of CBC Radio call-in show “Cross Country Checkup” for two decades, Murphy retired from the show in Sept. 2015, but continued appearing on The National for another two years. He concurrently wrote a Saturday column for The Globe and Mail until 2010, before it was cancelled and he was picked up by the National Post. Read more here.

Janine Sharp (Grespan), 63, on May 3. Grespan is best known for her almost 25-year run as a reporter, weather presenter and anchor at CKCO/CTV News Kitchener-Waterloo. She began her career at CFRB Toronto working as a features reporter before returning to her hometown of Kitchener in 1985 to work with CFCA and CKKW. She began appearing on television in 1986. Grespan fought cancer twice, initially in 2007 when she told viewers she “would be back.” Following her return, she set her career aside for the next 15 years to enjoy life.

Paul Edgley, 85, on May 7. Edgley graduated from Ryerson University in 1958 where he studied electrical engineering and electronics and was president of the Ryeham Radio club (VE3RIT) for three years before starting a short-lived position installing and servicing military radar systems during the cold-war period with Canadian General Electric. He chose to stay closer to home taking a position with Standard Broadcasting, working for Clive Eastwood as the Chief Transmitter Technician for CFRB and CKFM. He was involved in the design and installation of a new antenna array for CFRB, and design and installation for CKFM’s move from the Bank of Commerce Building to the then new Commerce Court Building. In the mid-1970s, he moved over to Baton Broadcasting (CTV) at 9 Channel Nine Court in Scarborough as Manager, Transmission System. He was a member of the engineering team for the broadcast transmitter facilities at Toronto’s CN Tower with primary involvement in the planning and installation of the initial five FM radio transmitters and related combiner / antenna system. Edgley also served in executive positions with several Amateur Radio organizations over a 35-year period including the original Ontario DX Association (ODX), CanaDx, Radio Society of Ontario (RSO), CARF and Toronto FM Communications Society  (TFMCS) and was active in CW,  SSB, RTTY and OSCAR satellite modes as well as some pioneering work on the early VHF/UHF repeater and linking systems in southern Ontario. He was awarded the Association of Central Canada Broadcast Engineers (CCBE) “Engineer of the Year” honour in 2001 and retired from CTV Television in January 2004, capping a 53-year career in broadcasting engineering.

Philip Tompkins, 61, on May 18. Tompkins joined Kingston’s CKWS-TV (now Global) right out of Loyalist College in 1983. He went on to a 35-year career with the station as a videographer, editor and producer. Following his retirement from the station in 2017, he became a partner in SpotOn Media, producing video and web content.

Darren Dutchyshen, 57, on May 16. Originally from Regina and raised in Porcupine Plain, SK, Dutchyshen started sportscasting at STV Saskatoon, and then IMTV in Dauphin, MB. From there, he spent seven years as the host of ITV’s “Sports Night” in Edmonton. “Dutchy” as he was known by his colleagues, had been with TSN since 1995, starting as host of the weekend editions of “SportsDesk” and “CFL Live.” He went on to host “Sportscentre” for three decades, often the late-night edition alongside Rod Smith and later Jennifer Hedger. He took Sportscentre on the road as part of the “Kraft Celebration Tour,” in addition to co-hosting boxing show “In This Corner” with trainer Russ Anber, and hosting Olympic Prime Time during the London 2012 and Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games. Dutchyshen first announced his cancer diagnosis in September 2021 when he took a break from the network. His family said in a statement issued by Bell Media that he died “surrounded by his closest loved ones.” “His sharp wit remained until his final moments, classically delivering plenty of jokes – most of them pretty good and all of them inappropriate.” Read more here.

Jim Fraser, 75, on May 15, of cancer. Fraser started his broadcasting career at CKAY Duncan, BC in 1969. He eventually moved on to CHUB Nanaimo and by 1973 was hosting the station’s morning show. In 1984, he joined CKWX Vancouver where he was well-known as the host of afternoons on the home of “Real Country.” In 1994, he joined the morning show on CJJR-FM Vancouver where he remained until 1997. Fill-in work followed on CKKS-FM and CKNW, before Fraser departed to the Sunshine Coast and CKAY-FM Gibsons where he hosted mornings from 2006-08. 

David Gazer, on May 14. Gazer, who went by the on-air handle of “Dave Melbourne,” started his radio career with a part-time job at CKCY 920 AM Sault Ste. Marie in 1975, while studying journalism at Sault College. From there, he succeeded in landing a news position at CKLW Windsor where he was hired by the station’s legendary news director Byron MacGregor. He wrapped up his 25-year career with stints at AM 640 (CFRB-AM) and 680 News (CFTR-AM) in Toronto.

James “Jim” Farrell, 91, on April 11. Born in Iroquois Falls, ON and raised in Nipigon, Farrell went on to a long career in broadcasting in Winnipeg after his graduation from the Radio & Television Arts Program at Ryerson Institute of Technology. Farrell joined CJAY-TV Winnipeg, which became part of the newly-created CTV network, as a news reporter and co-host of “Your Government” and live outdoor sports show “Manitoba Sportsman.” He went on to become news director at CKRC radio and later co-anchor of CKND-TV’s “First News.” Farrell also served as a track announcer at Assiniboia Downs and served as president of the Manitoba Harness Horseman Association. 

Bob Mackowycz, Sr., on May 29. Mackowycz is arguably best known for his time at Toronto’s Q107 (CILQ-FM), which he joined in its first year of operation in 1977, and where he went on to create “The 6 O’Clock Rock Report” and “Psychedelic Sundays.” After being promoted to program director in 1987, Mackowycz left the station that same year to work for Standard Broadcasting, joining CKFM in 1988. He went on to leadership positions at CFRB and The Fan 590 (CJCL-AM), among other stops. His industry footprint included working on the application to bring Sirius satellite radio to Canada, and while in Washington, D.C., serving as the program director of SiriusXM’s USA Today channel. He eventually became a programming consultant and subsequently a co-owner of Shore 104 (CHLG-FM) Vancouver, which was sold to Astral Media in 2012. Mackowycz was also a published author, co-authoring Dream Tower: The Life and Legacy of Rochdale College, exploring the history of the experimental student-run alternative education and co-operative living venture, located in a notorious 18-story residence in downtown Toronto in the late 1960s and early ’70s. The book was later adapted into a National Film Board (NFB) documentary. Mackowycz’s son, Bob Mackowycz, Jr., also went on to pursue a career in broadcasting. Read more here.

Saul Jacobson, 70, on May 26. Originally from Canora, SK, Jacobson started working in radio as a teen while still in high school. He went on to study music performance at Regina University and taught for a short period of time, but was pulled back into the radio business going on to a 35-year broadcast career. In addition to stops in Melfort, Brandon, Saskatoon and Regina, Jacobson is best known for his 13-year run as an afternoon drive host at CHUM’s Majic 100 Ottawa from 1992 to 2006. He went on to host mornings at Jewel Radio Ottawa for three and a half years. Other ventures included founded Prairie Broadcast Training Institute while in Regina. Following his retirement from broadcasting in 2011, he launched SuccessPro International, writing and public speaking. He also served as volunteer music director at Broadview Avenue Public School for the last 12 years, receiving the Sovereign’s Medial for Volunteers in 2014.

Dylan Willows, 45, on June 6. Willows was part of the launch team at Vancouver’s The Beat 94.5 (CFBT-FM) during the early part of his broadcast career. He returned to his hometown of Victoria in 2005 to take a position with Pattison Media’s 100.3 The Q (CKKQ-FM), before moving over to sister station The Zone @ 91-3 (CJZN-FM) a year later. Paired with co-host Jason Lamb for almost two decades on the station morning show, Lamb accepted the BC Association of Broadcasters’ Broadcast Performer of the Year award in May on behalf of the duo. Vancouver Island General Manager Rob Bye told the BCAB gathering that the morning show was a ratings leader, ranking #1 at least 10 books in a row with adults 18-44. Willows also promoted countless Victoria artists during his decade as the director of The Zone’s Band of the Month program. He stepped away from the station in March following a stage 4 uveal melanoma diagnosis he revealed in December, which he had previously battled 20 years ago. The Zone hosted a sold out benefit concert, in honour of the veteran announcer, at the Royal Theatre on March 19. Read more here.

Tony Cashman, 101, on June 3. Cashman began working at CFRN Radio in Edmonton as a radio reporter in 1949 after returning from WWII where he flew 30 missions as an RCAF navigator. He went on to work with CJCA. Interested in bringing the city’s history to life, he launched “The Edmonton Story,” which ran for 700 episodes on the station and produced more than 15 books. Cashman went on to work at the Edmonton Journal, served as program director at CKUA radio through the 1960s, and curator of the Vista 33 telephone and telecommunications museum. Over the years he wrote histories of Alberta’s nursing profession, the Alberta Motor Association and Edmonton Northlands, in addition to illustrated histories of Alberta and Western Canada. He was honoured as an “Edmontonian of the Century” in 2004, was inducted into Edmonton’s Cultural Hall of Fame in 1999, and was awarded the Alberta Order of Excellence in 2014.  

Carol Little Partridge Armit, 81, on May 8. A member of the McCreary Dramatic Society in her hometown of McCreary, MB, Armit won a scholarship to the Banff School of Fine Arts, moving to New York City in 1960 to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London followed, before she returned to Canada and graduated from the Carleton University journalism program, beginning her career as a print journalist for the Ottawa Citizen. She went on to join the Winnipeg Free Press and then CJOB In 1976, where she hosted an open line show. She was elected the first woman president of the Winnipeg Press Club. After moving to Regina, she founded Newswatch Canada in 1987. She retired at age 78 to Killarney, MB. 

Edmund Dearden, 96, on March 29. Dearden joined the Winnipeg Tribune in 1944 right out of high school as an apprentice printer in the composing room. After a labour dispute forced out all union shop employees, he spent the next 13 years with Canadian Pacific Railway, continuing to freelance for the Tribune sports department, which he joined on a permanent basis in 1959. In 1965, he started covering golf as a freelancer for CJOB, also reporting on national and international competitions. During the mid-70s, he also began covering the Winnipeg Jets and served as the colour commentator for Jets broadcasts on CJOB. He retired in 1990 after serving as the media coordinator for what’s now known as Sport Manitoba. Dearden was a past president of the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association and was named to its Media Roll of Honour in 1990. He was also an inductee of the Manitoba Hockey, Golf and Basketball Halls of Fame.

Érik Canuel, 63, on June 15, of secondary plasma cell leukemia. The son of actors Yvan Canuel and Lucile Papineau, Canuel began his career in the mid-1980s making music videos for artists like Sass Jordan and Sylvain Cossette. He went on to study film at Concordia University, co-founding Kino Films with Pierre Gill and Marie-France Lemay. Directing in both English and French, Canuel’s work included television series like Big Wolf on Campus for FOX and The Hunger for Showtime. His 2000 IMAX film Hemingway: A Portrait earned a Genie Award for Best Short Documentary, among other accolades. Other credits included Barrymore, starring Christopher Plummer, in 2011; Red Nose (Nez rouge) in 2003; and Bon Cop, Bad Cop, the highest-grossing Canadian movie of 2006, which broke box office records. More recently, he had directed a number of episodes of CTV’s Transplant, Ransom, 19-2, Flashpoint, and Les Jeunes Loups, among other series.

Keith Cox, 66, on June 3. After attending UBC, where he obtained a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Industrial Relations, Cox followed his father – play-by-play pioneer and B.C. Sports Hall of Famer Jim Cox – into media, starting at Cariboo Radio (CKCQ) Quesnel in 1983. Stints at CKNW Vancouver, CJVI Victoria, and then Broadcast News (BN) in Edmonton (where the infamous 1987 tornado hit just two weeks into the job) and later Toronto where he worked in the Queen’s Park Bureau. He made the foray into television in 1993 at CTV Toronto and then KAKE TV in Wichita, KS. Cox and his wife Mary relocated to Denver in 1998 where he received his Masters in Education and taught elementary school in the Cherry Creek School District for seven years. He semi-retired in 2015, and had been living on Vancouver Island since 2020.

Donald Sutherland, 88, on June 20. Before his foray onto stage and screen, Sutherland was an aspiring broadcaster, landing a job at CKBW Bridgewater, NS where his family relocated to from New Brunswick. Sutherland started working at the station at age 15 reading news and acting a disc jockey, prior to attending Victoria University in Toronto and subsequently leaving Canada to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Sutherland’s breakout film role came in 1967 with WWII film The Dirty Dozen. He went on to land the lead in 1970 feature film M*A*S*H as Captain Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce, earning him the first of nine Golden Globe nominations. An eclectic range of roles in nearly 200 film and television productions followed from 1971’s Klute (1971) to Ordinary People (1980), Backdraft (1991), Disclosure (1994), A Time to Kill (1996), Fallen (1998), Pride & Prejudice (2005), and The Hunger Games franchise (2012-15). His numerous accolades include a Genie (1983), Emmy (1995), two Golden Globes (1995, 2002), the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement (2000), and an Honorary Oscar from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (2017), in addition to stars on Canada’s Walk of Fame (2000) and the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2011). He was named a Companion of the Order of Canada in 2019, and a Commandeur of France’s Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2012.  

Larry Updike, 69, on June 20. Performing in public from the time he was a child in Southern Ontario as part of a family singing group, Updike was an ordained minister prior to his radio career, which he began to supplement his income. Updike is best known as one-half of “Tom and Larry,” the morning show he hosted alongside Tom McGouran, initially on Power 97 (CJKR-FM) from 1982 to 1988 and then on 92 CITI for another six years. The highly-rated duo were lured to Vancouver’s Rock 101 (CFMI-FM) in 1994, but the show did not translate to the new market and they were released after less than a year. Updike later resurfaced on 680 CJOB in 1995, where he went on to host the morning show from 2000-09. In 2009, he signed on with Winnipeg’s Siloam Mission as the not-for-profit organization’s Senior Communications Spokesperson. He was inducted into the Manitoba Broadcasters Hall of Fame that same year. He went on to host “Up to Speed,” the afternoon show on CBC Radio One, from 2010-13. In 2014, he published My Word! The Larry Updike Story, chronicling his journey from Pentecostal minister to rock radio and talk show host. Read more here.

I don’t know what Mark’s job description was. To those of us who relied on him he was a wizard. He always answered our calls for help,always had our backs. I told him many times, including the night before he died, that I never wanted to go on the road without him. RIP my friend https://t.co/k3pxOAnfx5

— Dawna Friesen (@DFriesenGlobal) June 20, 2024

Mark Blanchard, 55, suddenly of a heart attack, on June 19. Blanchard had worked with Global News since 2001 as Manager of the Network Resources Desk, helping field crews with tech, logistics and newsgathering. In an on-air tribute, Global National anchor Dawna Friesen called him “a technical, logistical wizard, who solved problems and made news happen…he demanded excellence and was a master at overcoming obstacles.” Blanchard started his journalism career in print in Halifax, prior to pursuing radio and television news, including a stint at CTV Atlantic. 

Kim (Irvine) Kuhn, 48, on June 18, following a battle with cancer. A 1996 BCIT Television Production graduate, Kuhn had been a director with Global BC for the last 25 years. She concurrently compiled a long list of broadcast producer and director credits, specializing in live production and multi-camera events, including Vancouver Giants hockey, the Variety Show of Hearts Telethon, the 2010 and 2015 Olympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies, and numerous Grey Cup, Canada Day, and New Year’s Eve specials. She also worked on events abroad, including the Jubilee Arts International Talent Showcase in Lisbon. 

Peter Varley, 64, on July 7. Varley worked in radio, with stops at CKCK Regina and CKO Radio in Toronto where he hosted a network talk show, before embarking on a communications career. Among other roles, Varley served as Press Secretary and Assistant Director of Communications for the Office of Ontario Premier Bob Rae from 1992-97 and later as Director of Communications for Opposition Leader Tim Hudak from 2011-13. He also held the title of VP of Public Affairs with the Institute of Chartered Accountants for almost a decade. More recently, he’d been running his own consultancy, working on Toronto mayoral candidate Anthony Furey’s campaign and the Mike Harris Legacy Project. During his time with CKO, Varley was honoured with an ACTRA Award in 1986.

Scott Boyd, 68, on July 2. Boyd’s first broadcasting job was with Sydney’s CHER-FM, moving from evenings to afternoons, and eventually the morning show. He joined Breakfast Television on ASN (Atlantic Satellite Network) in the late 1980s as a co-host, alongside Liz Rigney and Kurt Stoodley. Boyd eventually returned to Cape Breton and 99.9 CJIJ Membertou, before joining The Giant in 2008 as a morning show co-host with Rob MacNamara and Tashia Lee. He later moved to New Glasgow’s Q97.9, before retiring back to Cape Breton. He continued to occasionally announce races at Bud’s Speedway and served as a host at events like the IWK Telethon. Boyd was honoured with a Media Personality of the Year award in 2003 by the East Coast Music Awards.

Rick Cluff, 74, on July 2, after a short battle with cancer. Cluff followed his father Harold into broadcasting against the advice of the CFRB and Air Force Radio performer, initially testing the waters in campus radio at Seneca College and Western University. After obtaining a Journalism degree from Carleton University, Cluff went on to a 41-year career with the public broadcaster, starting his career as a reporter and commentator with CBC Sports in Toronto, covering the CFL, NFL, MLB, NHL, PGA and LPGA, eight Olympic Games and five Commonwealth Games. Cluff made the move to Vancouver in 1997, hosting CBC Radio’s Early Edition for another 20 years. After retiring from the public broadcaster at the end of 2017, he briefly hosted a show for online platform, Orca.ca. More recently, he’d been consulting and coaching under the banner of his own media consultancy Countdown Communications. Cluff was inducted into the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame in 1999 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from RTDNA Canada in 2018. Read more here.

Bill Custers, 63, on June 30, following a brief illness. Custers started his career as a community programmer in the late 1970s while studying radio and television broadcasting at Niagara College. By 1983, he was General Manager at Cable 14 in Hamilton. After a decade, he joined Western Co-Axial as VP, Programming and Marketing. Custers went on to work with Astral Media’s Viewer’s Choice business as Director of Programming and Marketing and then Director of Operations, managing the team that deployed Astral’s suite of HD channels and Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) products. After 13 years with Astral, he returned to Cable 14 in 2012 as Technical and Network Operations Supervisor. He retired in November 2023 as Senior Manager, Broadcast & Strategy. Upon his retirement, Custers was named to the Order of Hamilton.

Lori Paris, 46, on June 29. A graduate of both Carleton University and the Humber College post-grad Journalism program, Paris started her career while still in school in 2002, working overnights at CFRB Toronto as a reporter and anchor. Stints reporting and anchoring followed at Rogers Sports & Media’s radio stations in Ottawa, including 1310 News, and briefly 580 CFRA. Paris joined The Canadian Press (CP) newsroom in Toronto in 2013, holding roles including editor, news reader, and most recently assistant audio editor. Paris was part of the team recently nominated for a National Newspaper Award for the wire service’s coverage of last summer’s wildfires in B.C.

Bob Hunter, 77, on June 28. Born and raised in Moose Jaw,  Hunter had a 44-year long career as a Broadcast Engineer, much of which took place in Edmonton with stops at EZ Rock (CFMG-FM) and CHQT, among other stations. He retired as Director of Engineering from Bell Media Radio in Edmonton in 2013.

Ray St. Germain, 83, on June 25. St. Germain began to gain popularity as a country and rockabilly performer in his teens. Dubbed “Winnipeg’s Elvis,” he went on to play alongside country stars like Johnny Cash and Kenny Rogers. An ardent promoter of Métis and Indigenous culture, St. Germain hosted numerous radio and television shows, starting in the 1960s. They included CBC series “Time for Livin’” and “My Kind of Country,” in addition to long-running CKND Winnipeg show “Ray St. Germain Country.” He also hosted Saturday morning call-in show “Métis Hour x2” on the NCI (Native Communications Inc.) radio network in Manitoba for 23 years. He retired from the station in 2022. St. Germain was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2010 and received the Order of Manitoba in 2013. He had previously been inducted into the Aboriginal Order of Canada in 1985 and the Manitoba Aboriginal Music Hall of Fame in 2005.

Leo Brown (aka Gregg Lee), 68, suddenly on July 16 while on vacation in Halifax. Under his given name, Brown began his radio career at the age of 19 at CJCB Sydney, NS. He had transitioned to the on-air sign on of Gregg Lee by the time he moved on to stints at CHNS and CJCH in Halifax. In 1982, he began a 20-year career at 1050 CHUM and CHUM-FM in Toronto, where he honed his skills as a commercial and documentary voiceover performer, including serving as the narrator of “The CHUM History of Rock” film, and a regular booth announcer for CityTV. Upon leaving CHUM in 2002, he was retained as a production voice for The Team sports network, followed by many years as a national commercial voiceover performer for Rogers, and radio and TV stations in Italy and South Africa. An ACTRA member for four decades, he most recently had been working as an English voiceover talent for advertising agencies and production houses in Quebec, and as a performer on features for AMI (Accessible Media Inc.). He donated his talents to many charitable causes, including Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and The Variety Club of Ontario.

Eric Wallace MacEwen, 78, on July 27. After studying science at Memorial University and then writing and communications at Boston University, MacEwen began his broadcast career at CHNS Halifax in 1967. By 1970, he had joined CJCB Sydney in Cape Breton as the host of the station’s evening rock programming. In 1973, he took a detour from radio to serve as Director of Public Relations to the President of Cape Breton University. He returned to radio in 1982 as the host of his own Saturday night evening show on CFCY Charlottetown. Following its cancellation in 2018, he hosted the program in a podcast format as Saturday Night in a Harbour Town. MacEwan, who forged relationships over the years with musicians including Lennie Gallant, Ron Hynes, Rita MacNeil and Stan Rogers, was one of the founding members of the East Coast Music Association and a longtime host at StanFest in Canso, NS. His radio show was nominated for an East Coast Music Award in the Radio category in 2000. He received an honorary Builder’s Award in 2005.

Gordon Skuttle, 104, on Aug. 4. Skuttle’s fascination with radio started young. By his early teens he had built a crystal set, by 18 he had secured his amateur radio license with the call letters VE4DG, and a year later had completed, by correspondence, the Radio and Television Diploma Program of the National Radio Institute in Washington, D.C., with a specialization in radio communications. Skuttle went on to study at the Radio College of Canada in Toronto, earning his Commercial Radio Operation Diploma and his Commercial Radio Operator license from the Department of Transport. While still a student, he started working at CKCL Toronto as a Special Events Operator, operating events ranging from big band performances to church broadcasts. Skuttle returned to Edmonton in 1943, working at CJCA as a Studio Operator. In 1957, he was named Chief Engineer. During his time with CJCA, he supervised the construction of two studio buildings and two new transmitter sites, installed a 200KW ERP FM transmitter, and managed the increase of AM power to 50KW. Skuttle was heavily involved with the Western Association of Broadcast Engineers (WABE) and recognized with WABE’s highest honour, the R.W. Lamb Award, in 1993.

Pamela (Timothy M.) Burge, 79, on Aug. 3. Burge started their career at CKDA Victoria in the mid-1960s. Stints at CKLG Vancouver as a “Boss Jock” and CJOR followed. From there, Burge was heard on CKVN Vancouver and by the 1980s was serving as program director at CFMI-FM Vancouver. In the late 1980s, Burge moved to CKOV Kelowna to do middays. Burge eventually left radio and underwent gender affirmation surgery. In more recent years, they had been known as “Pamela.”

Mel Hoyme, 88, on July 6. Hoyme, who grew up on a small farm outside of Camrose, attended the radio and electronics apprenticeship program at SAIT in Calgary, leading to a six-decade career in radio and broadcasting. While still in school, Hoyme started working part-time as a technician in 1957 at CKXL. Among his biggest accomplishments was helping launch CHQR Calgary in 1964. He built CHQR’s first state-of-the-art 50,000 watt transmitter in 1975. After retiring from the station as Vice President of Engineering at the age of 65 in 2000, he returned to assist with the technical requirements for the McMahon Stadium broadcast booth, still used for every Calgary Stampeders home game. He fully retired in 2020. Hoyme received a Retirement Award from the Western Association of Broadcast Engineers (WABE) in 2005.

Michael Hall Caine, 75, on July 22. Caine was a second-generation broadcaster as the son of Whiteoaks Communications founders Howard and Jean Caine, who first started dreaming of owning a radio station while working together at CKOC Hamilton. They founded CHWO Oakville in 1956. Following Howard’s death in 1967, Jean and later Michael – who had been raised in the business and groomed to take over – succeeded him in management, going on to found CJMR in 1974, the first station licenced to the newly-incorporated city of Mississauga. In June of 2000, Michael achieved a personal goal, winning approval for an Adult Standards station at 740 AM, the former CBC Toronto frequency, known as “Primetime Radio.” It was sold to ZoomerMedia founder Moses Znaimer in 2008. At the time of his death, Michael was still serving as CEO of Whiteoaks Communications. The company is now under the guidance of his son Matthew, the third generation of Caines in broadcasting.

Irene Madoche, 88, on Aug. 6. Madoche worked in Edmonton radio for more than five decades, starting at CJCA in 1959, spending the bulk of her career with K97 (CIRK-FM), Mix 96 (CKRA-FM), and CFCW, through the ownership of Selkirk Communications and Newcap Radio. Madoche was the first point of contact to anyone who visited the stations and was known for her remarkable memory for names, voices and phone numbers. She retired in 2010 around her 75th birthday.

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.

Michael Marshall, 83, on Aug. 20. The son of former Hamilton broadcaster Norm Marshall, Michael got his start in radio as an announcer at CHOW Welland in 1958. Stints at CKKW Kitchener and CHML Hamilton followed, before Marshall went west to Edmonton in 1963 to take on evenings at 630 CHED. He later helmed afternoon drive on CJCA Edmonton, before returning to CHED less than a year later to host afternoons. He eventually gravitated back to CHML Hamilton and later joined CKLW Windsor as “Frank Brodie.” His career also included stops at CFTR Toronto, CHFI-FM Toronto and CIWV Hamilton.

Bob Templeton, 73, on Aug. 4. Templeton began his broadcasting career as a DJ in Brockville, ON, moving on over the next few years to stations in Revelstoke, and management positions at CFOR Orillia and CKMP Midland, along with stops in Aurora, Woodstock, and Sudbury. In 1981, Templeton became the general manager of Telemedia’s “Opex,” the in-house rep firm for Telemedia Radio. He eventually landed in Halifax and served as President of NewCap Broadcasting from 2002-09, with over 50 radio stations and 500 employees under his remit.

Stevie Cameron, 80, on Aug. 31, from Parkinson’s. Born in Belleville, ON, Cameron’s foray into journalism began as a food writer in the late 1970s, after attending Le Cordon Bleu Cooking School in Paris. She went on to become food editor of the Toronto Star, lifestyles editor at the Ottawa Journal, and later lifestyles and travel editor at the Ottawa Citizen. She eventually transitioned into investigative and political reporting at the Citizen. By 1986, Cameron had joined The Globe and Mail as a national columnist and reporter and published her first book, Ottawa Inside Out. Her second book, On the Take: Crime, Corruption and Greed in the Mulroney Years, published in 1994, raised questions about former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney’s involvement in the Airbus Affair. She went on to join Maclean’s magazine as a contributing editor, was the founding editor of women’s magazine Elm Street in 1996, and penned more books, including two on serial killer Robert Pickton. Cameron also did a stint as host of CBC’s “The Fifth Estate” in the early 1990s. Her work outside of journalism included co-founding Out of the Cold, a volunteer program run out of Toronto’s St. Andrew’s Church, providing food and clothing to the homeless. Cameron was awarded the Order of Canada in 2012.

Marty Adler, 81, on Aug. 24 after a long battle with cancer. A longtime media presence on radio and television in Windsor from CKLW to CBC, Adler was equally known for his four decades as a track announcer at Windsor Raceway. Adler is perhaps best remembered for his work as a CBC sportscaster and turning games into stories, giving many high school athletes their 15 minutes of fame. He founded Great Lakes Television in 1982, a production company focused on commercials, corporate videos and a real estate channel. In 2021, Adler pursued a licence for community radio station “The Burg,” CKBG 107.9 Amherstburg, ON, which launched on July 3, 2023. His last day on-air was July 13.

Jack Milligan, 91, on Aug. 18. In addition to a long career with Edmonton Telephones (EdTel), Milligan worked as a part-time broadcast technician at several Edmonton radio stations, including CJCA and CHQT. He also oversaw the sound system build for various events in the Edmonton area, notably the 1978 Commonwealth Games.

Carlo Sgaetti, 77, on Aug. 31, of cancer. Sgaetti started his professional career working in film in Italy, but after taking time off to travel, ended up in Canada where a job opportunity presented itself at BCTV in Vancouver. Sgaetti went on to work with BCTV/Global BC for more than four decades, holding roles including Camera Assistant, Cameraman, Editor and Chief Editor. He retired from the station in 2015.

Rest in Peace, Darren ❤️ pic.twitter.com/W3NYDHZwrC

— Paul Haysom (@PaulHaysom) August 28, 2024

Darren Scott, 55. Scott attended Mount Royal College in Calgary, where he earned a diploma in broadcasting. He went on to work at TV stations in Alberta and B.C., before arriving at CHEK News in Victoria where he spent the last 13 years in Master Control. 

Randy Richards (aka Randy Quinn), 66, on Sept. 14, following a three-year battle with  cancer. Richards got his first taste of radio at CFB Trenton, where he hosted his first radio show at the age of 16. After attending Loyalist College, Richards worked at radio stations from  Belleville, ON to Calgary, including FM 108 Burlington, CJCS Stratford, CJOY Guelph, CKAN Newmarket, and eventually Barrie where he landed in 1991 and went on to work at Rock 95 (CFJB-FM) for 30 years. He also did a stint in sales at the Barrie Examiner. Richards, who had most recently been heard in afternoons on Rock 95, had been on leave from Central Ontario Broadcasting for the past few years.

Paul Meagher, 70, on Sept. 12. Born and raised in Halifax where he attended St. Patrick’s High School and then St. Mary’s University, Meagher’s foray into broadcasting began in 1977 at CHNS Halifax. From there, Meagher spent the bulk of his career at CFDR, and later SUN-FM and CHFX-FM. He also spent time at CHSJ Saint John, NB. More recently, he’d been heard on Eastern Passage, NS community station 105.9 Seaside FM (CFEP-FM).

Craig Lawrence, 73, on Sept. 1, following a stroke and early onset Parkinson’s. Originally from Duncan, BC, Lawrence attended the BCIT Broadcast program in the early 1970s before joining BCTV/Global BC in Vancouver as a cameraman in the heyday of studio variety and game shows. “Mongo,” as he was known, became an excellent handheld and ped cameraman and later mastered the jib. He was eventually promoted to DOP (Director of Photography), a title he held until 2013. Among the events he worked on were many Olympic games, working with the BCTV/WIC mobile group for American and Canadian networks. Lawrence also bonded with many of the children featured in profiles he shot for the annual Variety Show of Hearts Telethon.

Doc Harris, 76, on Oct. 5 in Vancouver General Hospital. Born Gilbert Auchinleck, Harris used several monikers on-air over the years, starting his broadcasting career in 1966 as “Gil Harris” at CKDA and CFMS-FM Victoria. From there, stops at CJAT Trail, BC, CKOM Saskatoon, CKSO Sudbury and CHAM Hamilton followed. He made his on-air debut in Toronto on CFTR as “Doc Holiday” in 1971, before returning to the West Coast and CKLG Vancouver in 1973, where he initially was heard as “Gil” and by 1976, “Doc Harris.” Holding roles across programming, music direction, and helming the morning show, after an 11-year run with the station, Harris moved on to CFMI-FM Vancouver in 1984, followed by CKKS-FM, CFUN, and an almost decade-long stint doing fill-in on CKNW. Harris was last heard in various dayparts on CISL Vancouver, up until 2007, and as the co-host of weekly feature Dan Gardener’s Automotive Intelligence. Concurrently, he lent his voice to animated series like Dragon Ball Z, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Monster Rancher, and John Candy vehicle Camp Candy, as well as video games, including Hulk and Aegis Defenders. Read more here.

Bob Derro, 66, on Oct. 5, following a brain aneurysm. “Brother” Bob Derro was well known in Sudbury, Ottawa and throughout the Valley for his warm, personable, kind and engaging on-air presence. Born and raised in Sudbury, Derro had an early start to his 40+ year career while still in high school. He began as a cameraman at CKNC-TV in Sudbury, circa 1974, moving over to CHNO-AM a year later as a swing announcer. In 1985, Derro crossed the hall from CHNO to join the on-air staff at CJMX-FM. He and his family would pull up stakes in 1989 to make the move to Ottawa where he joined CFRA Radio. In 2001, Bob landed at CIWW Oldies 1310 Smiths Falls. He returned to the Ottawa airwaves in 2011 as the morning show host at Jewel 98.5 (CJWL-FM.) His career also included voiceover work for radio and television as well as for private clients.

George Johns, 83, on Oct. 3. Born in Winnipeg, Johns is credited as being one of the pioneers behind Adult Contemporary radio. Following an early foray into music that saw him record with bands like The Jury, The Devines and The Phantoms, his radio career started in the 1970s as a program director at stations including CKOM Saskatoon, CKSO Sudbury, CFRA Ottawa, and CFTR Toronto. By the end of the decade, he had moved stateside, rising to National Program Director of Fairbanks Broadcasting, overseeing WIBC and WNAP Indianapolis, KVIL Dallas/Fort Worth, WVBF and WKOX Boston, WIBG Philadelphia, and WRMF and WJNO Palm Beach. Johns also helped develop nationally syndicated promotion, “Magic Ticket.” He went on to become a principal in stations in Portland, Indianapolis and Milwaukee. In the 1990s, he consulted at stations throughout North America, under the umbrella of The Johns Company, before merging with Fairwest, a syndicator of “Music Of Your Life” and Continuous Country Formats.

Garnet Behnke, 83, on Oct. 2. Originally hailing from Blind River, ON, Behnke was the longtime Chief Controller at Cambrian Broadcasting, including Sudbury’s CKSO-TV, AM and FM, and CIGM-FM. He later took on the additional role of Assistant General Manager. Earning his professional accounting designation, while raising three young children and working at Ontario Hydro, Behnke also took on business ventures over the years, including Mr. Snappy Foods, Roller Country and Vitto Brand Foods.

Mike Bullard, 67, on Oct. 11. Born in Etobicoke, ON, but raised in Mississauga from his teens on, Bullard started out taking emcee spots at Yuk Yuk’s, going on to become a headliner and eventually landing a regular television spot in 1993 on Friday Night! With Ralph Benmergui. He went on to host late-night talk shows “Open Mike with Mike Bullard” on CTV (from 1997 to 2003), and “The Mike Bullard Show” on Global (from 2003-04). Bullard had a brief run hosting a morning show on satellite radio, and an evening show on Talk 820 (CHAM-AM) Hamilton, in addition to hosting TV reality series HouseCapades. From 2010-16, he hosted “Beyond the Mic with Mike Bullard” on NewsTalk 1010 (CFRB-AM) Toronto, but parted ways with the station in the fall of 2016 following allegations he later pleaded guilty to of harassing ex-girlfriend and CityNews reporter Cynthia Mulligan. Bullard had more recently been part of the launch lineup at News Talk Sauga 960 AM (CKNT-AM) Mississauga, starting in the fall of 2018, and had hosted the “You Too with Mike Bullard” podcast. In 2022, he travelled to Ukraine to volunteer with several humanitarian organizations, following the Russian invasion. Bullard was the recipient of two Gemini Awards for “Open Mike” – Best Talk Information Series in 1999 and Best Music Variety Program Series in 2001. The show also won the Gold Hugo Award for Best Talk Show at the Chicago International Television Festival in 2000. 

Floyd Patterson, 90, on Sept. 30. Patterson reported for Kingston media outlets for four decades, starting in the 1950s, including The Telegraph, The Globe and Mail, The Whig Standard, and CKWS Radio and Television. Among other programs, Patterson is remembered for hosting “Hotline,” his radio call-in show that featured guests from Prime Ministers Pierre Trudeau and John Diefenbaker to Willie Nelson and Bob Hope. In addition to serving as news and public affairs director, anchoring, and shooting his own material, Patterson hosted “Community Journal,” sharing editorial commentary and local human interest stories. He retired from CKWS in 1999, following his 65th birthday. He went on to serve as a City Councillor for the Sydenham District from 2003-06.

Dan Sys, 72, on Oct. 14, after a decade-long battle with cancer. The founding editor of the Canadian Radio News column, Sys began contributing to publications like Whites Radio Log as far back as the mid- to late 1960s, joining the International Radio Club of America (IRCA) around that time. In addition to his monthly summary of regulatory changes at Canadian radio stations, he operated a Facebook page for many years, up until Meta’s news ban in Canada which drove him to publish on RadioWest.ca. While his chosen career was that of a traditional mailman for Canada Post, radio was Sys’ passion. He was well-known for his collection of station memorabilia, and in particular stickers. He also held an interest in tracing long distance radio reception on AM.  

Doug Saunders, 71, on Oct. 13, following a long illness. Originally from Kenora, Saunders arrived in Nova Scotia in 1972 where he spent the bulk of his four-decade radio and television career, initially joining CJCH Halifax and later Oldies 96 CHNS, where he hosted mornings. He joined CBC in 1973, and is arguably best known for anchoring sports, alongside news anchor Frank Cameron on “Maritimes Tonight,” in addition to covering Olympic, Commonwealth and Canada Games for CBC-TV nationally, among other events. Following his retirement from CBC in 1995, Saunders pursued his passion for harness racing. Already an owner, he operated a standardbred horse breeding farm in Middle Musquodoboit throughout the 1990s and went on to become general manager of Sydney’s Tartan Downs. In 2007, he reignited his interest in radio, becoming the first full-time morning show host at the launch of Glace Bay community station, The Coast 89.7 (CKOA-FM), in addition to hosting the “Juke Box Saturday Night” program. He retired from the station in 2014, but continued to call Glace Bay home for the last two decades of his life.

Rossi Cameron, on Oct. 6. Born in Markham, ON, Cameron spent her early years on Baffin Island, before the family relocated to Moosanee, ON and eventually Edmonton. She landed her first job in broadcasting at CJCA community radio in 1965 as a single mother of four, who had left an abusive marriage. Starting out in the accounting office as an admin assistant, Rossi landed a job at the Edmonton Journal in 1968, where she developed into a reporter with a keen sense of social justice and was an early ally of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples. In the late 1960s and early ’70s, she began to shine a light on the impact of residential schools, racial discrimination, and social and economic inequity. She went on to pursue television news as the lone woman reporter in the CBC Edmonton newsroom, often pushing back against misogyny and sexism. Retiring with a reputation as a dogged investigative reporter, Cameron suffered a stroke in 2016 and worked to regain her speech.

Veryl Todd, 83, on Oct. 25. Todd was born at Carmangay, AB and grew up on a farm near Nobleford before moving to Lethbridge to play for the first-ever football team at St. Francis Boys School in 1958. He broke into broadcasting in 1960 at CHEC Radio, moving on to CJCA Edmonton, CFUN Vancouver, and CFCN Calgary. He went on to a 22-year teaching career at Lethbridge Community College where he was an instructor in the Broadcast Journalism program, earning the distinction of “Teacher of the Year.” He returned to broadcasting with Clear Sky Radio’s launch of CJOC 94.1 The Lounge in Lethbridge in 2007 as morning news anchor, alongside host Mark Campbell.

Darrel Janz, 83, on Nov. 2. Janz grew up in the small town of Main Centre, SK, initially pursuing teaching as a career, but after just one year landed at CFAM Radio in Altona, MB where he started his six-decade broadcasting career in 1962. From there, he moved on to CHAB-TV & Radio in Moose Jaw and then CFQC-TV Saskatoon. By the late 1960s, he was anchoring and reporting on Montreal’s CFCF-TV. A brief stint in London, ON followed as an anchor at CFPL-TV, before Janz joined CFCN-TV (now CTV Calgary), where he signed a five-year contract, but stayed for the next 50 years. Janz anchored the 6 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. newscasts from 1973-87, and then co-anchored the 6 p.m. cast From 1987 to 2010, 21 of those years with Barb Higgins. After Higgins left CTV to run for mayor in 2010, Janz returned to reporting, launching the weekly “Inspired” series that profiled exceptional Albertans and ran for 13 years. In addition to his work on television, Janz was a broadcast journalism instructor at SAIT for 11 years and at Mount Royal College for 15. Janz retired from CTV at the end of 2023 and had been hosting interview show” Legacy Makers,” alongside Bill Clements, on YES TV for the last year and a half, continuing to come into the studio up until just a month before his passing. Among the accolades Janz was presented with over the years were numerous RTNDA Awards, including the RTNDA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006; the Western Association of Broadcasters (WAB) Hall of Fame Award; an Honorary Bachelor of Communications – Journalism Degree from Mount Royal College; Honorary Bachelor of Applied Technology Degree from SAIT; the Heart of Calgary Award recognizing volunteer efforts; and the City of Calgary Award for Community Activism.

Deborah Birmingham, 61, on Nov. 19, following a battle with cancer. One of the former voices of the highly-rated OZFM Dawn Patrol on OZFM (CHOZ-FM) St. John’s, NL, Birmingham was a longtime co-host alongside Larry Davis (aka Larry Jay, who was married to Birmingham for a decade) and the late Randy Snow, who passed away just three months ago. Remembered for her larger than life personality and quick wit, Birmingham was working in a bank when she was scouted by the station in 1984. Alongside her rado duties, she also hosted hour-long news magazine NTV Newsday with Fred Hutton. Watch NTV’s tribute here.

Grant Kennedy, 89, on Nov. 15. Originally from Amhertsburg, ON, Kennedy joined the Canadian Navy at the age of 18 as a trombone player in the Navy band. Stationed mostly in the Maritimes, he retired in 1978 after 25 years with the Navy, while concurrently helping his brother Vern co-found Audio Atlantic, one of the first recording studios in the Maritimes that saw groups like Ryan’s Fancy, McGinty, Sylvia Tyson, and the cast of CBC’s Singalong Jubilee pass through its doors, among other productions. Kennedy joined ATV (now CTV Atlantic) in 1983 as an audio engineer, recording musical programs including “Up Home Tonight,” “The Joan Kennedy Show,” “Maritime Country,“ and the daily musical acts appearing on Breakfast Television. Also a pilot, he was known for flying CTV reporters and other media around the Maritimes to news events. He retired from CTV in 2003 and joined the Commissionaires as a fire warden in HMCS dockyard until 2021. Watch CTV Atlantic’s tribute to Kennedy here.

Dan Hennessey, 82, on Nov. 13, of complications from Parkinson’s disease. Born in New Jersey, Hennessey was an English teacher, prior to moving to Toronto where he started taking on acting roles in THOG’s psychedelic rendition of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the Red Barn Theatre and Gryffon Theatre, as well as CBC’s “Coming Up Rosie,” alongside John Candy, Catherine O’Hara, Gilda Radner, John Stocker, Rosemary Radcliffe and Dan Ackroyd. He eventually moved into voice acting, best known for his roles as Braveheart Lion in the Care Bears, Father Bear in Little Bear, and Chief Quimby in Inspector Gadget. He was also heard as Chef Truffles in Babar, Ruckus in X-Men: The Animated Series (for which he also served as voice director), and various roles on Star Wars: Droids, and Beetlejuice, among many other roles.

Bree Tiffin, 50, on Nov. 3, of cancer. Hailing from Prince Albert, SK, after obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Communications at the University of Regina, Tiffin began her broadcasting career with CBC-TV in Regina as a researcher on Utopia Café in the mid-1990s. A job with Discovery Channel in Toronto followed as a segment producer on The Daily Planet, and then a three-year stint as an associate producer with CTV, working on programs like W5 and 21c. Various director, story editor and producer credits followed on series like Late Night Eats, Vintage Tech Hunters, Beyond Corner Gas: Tales from Dog River (2005), Decked Out (2011) and Property Brothers Forever Home (2019). Tiffin ascended to the role of VP of Content at Boat Rocker Media’s Crooked Horse, before joining Scott Brother Entertainment in 2020 as a programming executive.

Herby Moreau, 56, on Nov. 3, of complications from myeloma. Haitian-born, Moreau arrived in Montreal at the age of five. After studying at École Supérieure de journalisme de Lille in France, he worked at France 2, TV5, and M6. He eventually returned to Montreal and started as a production assistant for Julie Synder in 1989 on the set of “Sortir.” He would go on to work with Snyder for 18 years, before hosting his own shows, including “Flash” on TQS, “Star Système” and “Star Académie.” He also established himself on the red carpet of A-list events like the Oscars and Cannes Film Festival. Moreau additionally worked as a reporter for La Première, Elle Québec, and served as a culture reporter for TVA. In 2009, he created his own internet video channel, herby.tv. He published “Glamour et faux pas” in 2014, recounting his many celebrity encounters.

Bruce Marshall on Dec. 9. After graduating from Seneca Polytechnic in 1984, Marshall went on to a 20-year run on-air at CHUM Toronto, working on both the AM and FM stations. Stints at 97.3 EZ Rock followed, in addition to CKOC, CJJD and K-Lite FM in Hamilton. Marshall also served as the network imaging voice for TSN from 2001-03, among other commercial voice work. Off-air, he was a firefighter, a radio professor in the School of Communication at Seneca, and made an unsuccessful bid for regional council in Brampton in 2018.

Ken Gibson, 92, on Nov. 30. An inductee of the B.C. Entertainment Hall of Fame, Gibson joined CBC-TV in Vancouver in 1961 after emigrating to Canada from England. Gibson moved up from Props Specialist to Production Assistant and by 1967 held the title of  Producer/Director in Variety Programming. Among other shows he worked on were pop music showcase “Let’s Go” (later renamed “Where It’s At”), 1968’s “Hits-a-Poppin” featuring Terry David Mulligan as host, and “The Irish Rovers,” for which he produced several series and 11 specials over 18 years, earning him a Genie Award. By the 1970s, he was working as a freelance producer/writer, producing shows like “It’s a Musical World” with Tommy Common, Red Robinson game show vehicle “TRIVIA,” talent search series “Fame Game,” and 1985’s “Rock Wars.” He was also behind early video series “Good Rockin’ Tonite” that ran nationally for 10 years and is credited with creating the first seven Canadian Country Music Awards specials, starting in 1987. He retired from television in 1997.

Gilles Landry, 60, on Nov. 29. Landry started his career as a photographer at independent French newspaper L’Acadie Nouvelle in Caraquet, NB. While he continued to freelance as a photographer, he eventually landed a job as a videographer and editor with CBC/Radio-Canada – a role he most recently held in Moncton.

Jim Waters, 73, on Dec. 13. The son of CHUM co-founder Allan Waters, Jim worked in radio for 35 years, culminating in a seat on the CHUM board of directors, alongside his brother Ron. Jim took over as head of the company shortly before his father’s death in late 2005. In July 2006, CHUM agreed to merge with CTVglobemedia. Waters stepped away from broadcasting, for the most part at age 55, at the end of that summer, but continued to maintain some connections to the media business, helping fund the application for student operated radio station, CHOP-FM, which launched at Pickering College in Newmarket, ON in 2007. He also sat on the board of Starboard Communications in Belleville, ON. Waters was named Broadcasting Executive of the Year at Canadian Music Week (CMW) in 2001 and was inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame in 2007. The owner of Ontario Hockey League (OHL) team, the Erie Otters, he had been a member of the OHL’s Executive Council of the Board of Governors since 2001. Read more here.

David Farrell, 73, on Dec. 19. Born on Vancouver Island, Farrell – the son of two journalists – started his career in the late 1960s, inspired after a backstage experience following a The Who show at The Rockpile in Toronto. That led to syndicated segments with CHUM Radio and newspapers across the country. He went on to become the Billboard correspondent for Canada. Following the closure of trade industry weekly, RPM, in the early 1980s, Farrell started The Record, a go-to for chart information. He navigated the music industry’s upheaval through the digital age, before advertisers dried up. The Record employed a staff of eight full-time, before it was shuttered in 2001 after a 20-year run. Broadcasting executive Gary Slaight underwrote Farrell’s next venture, FYI Music News, which covered the Canadian music industry for 15 years, starting in 2008. The publication’s archive remains accessible via Billboard Canada, which acquired FYI Music News last year, with Farrell staying on as a contributor. Farrell was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award during Canadian Music Week (CMW) in June, recognizing his more than five-decade career covering the music and broadcast industry. He had previously been inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame at Canadian Music Week (CMW). Read more here.