Michael Blake, 66, on Nov. 29 after a year-long battle with cancer. Prior to entering broadcasting, Blake had a goaltending career that began with the Waterloo Siskins and the Guelph Platers (Biltmore), followed by Ohio State University (1977-81), and the Los Angeles Kings (1981-84). Blake infamously let in Wayne Gretzky’s record-breaking 92nd goal in 1982. Following his hockey career, he pivoted to radio sales and sales management. Over a 20-year period, he worked with CJOY Guelph, CHYM-FM Kitchener and the FAN 590 (CJCL-AM) Toronto. He went on to co-own local company, Don’s Produce, with his brother, Gerry.
Norm Slater, 68, on Nov. 29, after a six-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Slater spent four decades in the cable and telecom industry, starting in 1976 after his graduation from the University of Western Ontario. He joined Cablesystems Engineering, the forerunner of Rogers Engineering, assisting with Rogers expansion into the U.S. in the early 1980s. He later joined Comlink. In 1993, he helped found Capella Telecommunications Inc., going on to serve as president of the broadcast/cable/telco solutions provider for 23 years. He retired from the company in 2016.
James Watson, 80, on Nov. 17. Watson left school to join local radio station CFAR “The Voice of the North” in Flin Flon, MB, getting an education along the way as a disc jockey, newsman, sportscaster, copywriter and salesperson. From there he landed at CFSL/CJSL in Weyburn/Estevan, and CKRC Winnipeg, before heading to the West Coast to join Selkirk Communications’ sister station, CJVI Victoria. He stopped at CJIB Vernon on his way to Victoria where the station manager convinced him to stay and do the mid-morning show. Within a short period of time, he was promoted to production manager. Watson went on to spend many years working with CKOV Kelowna, while also operating a small restaurant. He eventually moved to Vancouver to take a job with All Canada Radio & Television. He spent a decade with the company before joining Frank Griffiths’ Western Broadcast Sales. Using his combined media skillset, he went on to run a number of capital campaigns for not-for-profit organizations. Among his accomplishments was serving as Chair of the Rick Hansen Man in Motion World Tour. He was also Past National President of Kinsmen Clubs of Canada. In 2018, he was awarded the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers by Governor General Julie Payette.
Nikos Evdemon, 82, on Oct. 30. An award-winning cinematographer with a career spanning more than three decades, Evdemon got his start in the mid-1970s working on Canadian series like CBC’s For The Record. He went on to serve as cinematographer on numerous series and TV movies, including Seeing Things (1981-87), La Femme Nikita (1997-99), Mutant X (2001-02), Monk (2002) and ReGenesis (2004), among many other projects. Evdemon had numerous Canadian Society of Cinematographers (CSC) and Gemini Awards to his name, including a 2003 CSC Award for Best Cinematography in TV Series for Mutant X, a 1998 CSC Award for Best Cinematography in a TV Drama for Peacekeepers, and Geminis for Best Photography in a Comedy, Variety or Performing Arts Program or Series for The Lust of His Eyes (1996), TV movie Glory Enough For All (1989), and two Geminis for Seeing Things in 1986 and ‘87, among other nominations.
