Henry Pike, 93, on Oct. 19. Pike was the oldest volunteer at VOWR 800 AM St. John’s, NL, gracing the Wesley United Church community station’s airwaves for more than 60 years. Pike started volunteering with VOWR in 1958 after picking up a date at the station following her Sunday evening shift. Pike, who drove a 1955 Pontiac at the time, was recruited by the station manager to transport some equipment the following week. He married Frances a few years later, acting as her show’s operator. Their two children also went on to volunteer at VOWR. In recent years, Pike continued to host on the station on a bi-weekly basis, including “Music for Relaxation.”
Kelsa Kinsly, on Oct.17. Kinsly got her start in broadcasting at CFOX Vancouver in 1990, also contributing to Corus Vancouver stations Rock 101 (CFMI-FM) and MOJO Radio (CHMJ-AM). She moved to Toronto in 1998 to act as the contributing Canadian host of the Howard Stern Show during its brief run in syndication on Q107 (CILQ-FM). Kinsly went on to briefly host Breakfast Television at CTV Halifax before heading stateside in 2003. Stints in news and traffic followed at WLUP and WFLD FOX32 Chicago, NBC 10 WCAU Philadelphia, and The Weather Channel. From 2008 to 2018, she held various roles with iHeartMedia in Los Angeles, including reading news for KNX, K-EARTH, KFI, The Wave, and KFMB San Diego. She also had numerous acting credits to her name.
Alan Black, 64, on Oct. 17. A longtime journalist and editor with The Canadian Press (CP), Black joined the wire service in 1987 after starting his broadcast career in radio, including several years at CJAD and FM 96 (CJFM-FM) Montreal. He started in the sports department at CP, holding roles over the years in the Ontario bureau, national desk, and later overnight editor – his last position with the company which he held for eight years, before retiring in 2018. Among Black’s career highlights was covering 17 Olympic Games during his 31 years with CP.
“Tom Allen” Labanowich, 63, on Oct. 10. Allen had a more than 45-year broadcasting career, working throughout Ontario, including CKPC 1380 Brantford, ON and Energy 108 Hamilton. He also did a brief announcing stint with the Canadian Traffic Network (CTN).
