CAB Hall of Famer Fred Sherratt signs off

Submitted by Jennifer McKay Sherratt-Creelman with files from the Canadian Communications Foundation

Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ (CAB) Hall of Fame inductee Fred Sherratt passed away with his family by his side on April 22 after a brief battle with cancer. He was 93.

Fred got his start in radio in 1948 as an announcer at a station in Truro, NS. In 1949, he moved to Northern Ontario where he was a salesman and announcer with Roy Thomson’s stations.

In 1956, Fred co-founded CFRS Simcoe, ON and was general manager of the station until 1960. It was then that he joined the CHUM organization and was named General Manager of CKPT Peterborough. Five years later, he returned to Nova Scotia to take over the helm of CJCH Radio in Halifax as Vice-President and General Manager.

In 1969, Fred was named Vice-President of CHUM Limited and in 1971 he joined with CHUM and other investors to buy CJCH-TV, of which he was named President. Soon after, CHUM Limited acquired CKCW-TV Moncton, NB and CJCB-TV Sydney, NS which came under the umbrella of the Atlantic Television System and led to founding of the Atlantic Satellite Network.

He went on to serve as President of ATV and Executive Vice-President and CEO of CHUM Limited, overseeing CHUM’s broadcast operations across the country from the company headquarters in Toronto. He eventually retired as Chief Operations Officer, stepping down in late 2002 as Vice-Chairman, but continuing as a director and consultant.

Fred served on many industry boards and committees over the years including as Chairman of the Bureau of Broadcast Measurement (BBM), a Director of the CTV Television Network, and membership on the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) Board and its Executive Committee. 

His many awards included the 1984 CAB Distinguished Service Gold Ribbon, and the 1993 Ted Rogers Sr./Velma Rogers Award for his pioneering spirit and contribution to broadcasting. In 1995, he was inducted into the CAB Broadcast Hall of Fame, and in 2008 received the first ever Ontario Association of Broadcasters’ Lifetime Achievement Award. He was honoured at the 2009 JUNO Awards, where he received the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award, recognizing an individual who has contributed to the growth and advancement of the Canadian music industry.

Fred’s children followed him into the broadcasting industry. John purchased 95.5 Hits FM (CJOJ-FM) and Cool 100 (CHCQ-FM) in Belleville in 2002, of which Fred was an advisor.  Jennifer has worked as an announcer on many stations, most recently as morning show co-host on Cool 100.

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