Andy Walsh, 90, on Nov. 5 from cancer. Walsh started his radio career in 1951 after dropping out of high school to work for an advertising company in his hometown of Montreal. While working there, he had the opportunity to meet radio and television personalities, which helped spur his interest in becoming a broadcaster. His first radio job was at small 50-watt station CKSF-AM in Cornwall, ON. Born Andy Woloshen, it was there that it was suggested his name was too difficult to pronounce and he became Andy ‘Walsh’ on air. He moved on to CJIC-AM Sault Ste Marie and CFRA-AM Ottawa before he was offered a position at CJAD Montreal in 1954. After 15 years with CJAD, he applied to CHQM-FM Vancouver where he served as the station’s news director until 1993. Walsh went on to become the voice of weekend news on News 1130 (CKWX-AM) Vancouver (now CityNews 1130) for nearly 20 years. He retired in February 2017 at age 85. Known for his warm, yet authoritative delivery, he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the RTDNA in 2004 and was inducted into the Canadian News Hall of Fame in 2012. Read more here.
René Proulx, 73, on Oct. 27. With the public broadcaster for more than 35 years, Proulx started his career with CBC Vancouver. He went on to work as an editor for CBC National News, before eventually moving over to the Parliamentary Bureau in Ottawa. He retired in 2011.
