SIGN-OFFS:
Betty Kennedy, 91, famed for her work on CBC-TV’s long-running quiz show, Front Page Challenge, and her 27 years at CFRB Toronto. Kennedy’s work earned her spots in both the Canadian Broadcasting Hall of Fame and the Canadian News Hall of Fame. In 1982, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Bob Elsden, 90, in London. His radio career began in 1950 in the sales department at CFPL London. Three years later, he transferred to the new CFPL-TV and worked his way up. Elsden stayed with the Blackburn-owned property for 42 years, retiring as president. He also was chairman of the board for the Television Bureau of Canada in 1982-83 and first chairman of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters television board from 1985 to 1986. Elsden was named Broadcaster of the Year by the Central Canada Broadcasters’ Association in 1989.
Reg Sellner in Kitchener after a lengthy illness. He was one of the first on-air personalities at CKCO-TV Kitchener when the station signed on in 1954. Over the years he was a news anchor, morning show host, game show host and one of the hosts of Canadian Bandstand, a take-off of American Bandstand. Sellner eventually became promotions manager for the TV station and its local radio stations, CFCA-FM and CKKW.
Bob Robertson, 71, in Nanaimo. Robertson worked in programming, production and on-air at CKXL-AM Calgary, CKDA-AM Victoria and CFAX-AM Victoria before joining the Frosty Forst morning show at CKNW NewsTalk 980 Vancouver in the mid-1980s. Later, he and wife Linda Cullen created the CBC Radio series Double Exposure. In recent years, they produced a podcast called Double Exposure Radio. Robertson also did fill-in hosting for Rafe Mair at CKBD Vancouver.
Jim Weir, 70, at home in Woodstock, Ont. after a sudden illness. His 30-year on-air career began in the 1960s at CFPL London. His last gig was a morning host at CHOK Sarnia.
Kerry Gray, 50, of brain cancer. The American radio man was PD at HTZ-FM (CHTZ-FM) St. Catharines in 1999 and was working at 105.9 FM (KWNG-FM) Red Wing, Minn., while being treated at the nearby Mayo Clinic when he died. Gray and Ben McVie worked on-air together at HTZ, then took their show to Dave FM Kitchener and JACK FM Toronto before moving to Y108 Hamilton/Burlington where they did the Ben and Kerry morning show from June 2008 to July 2013. McVie still does the Y108 morning show.
Peter Jackson, 81, in Victoria. He began his career as a DJ in 1957 at CFUN Vancouver, then moved to CKY Winnipeg where he gained notoriety as PJ the DJ. In 1963, he moved to CKLG Vancouver and then to CKXL-AM Calgary. In the late ‘60s, he joined the sales department at CKWX Vancouver.
John Cummings, 68, in New Westminster from an aneurysm. His radio career began at CHTK Prince Rupert in 1973. Later, he made moves to CKOK Penticton, CJCA Edmonton, CJVI Victoria, CKXR Salmon Arm, CKXM Edmonton and CHQT Edmonton. He signed-on CJJR-FM Vancouver when the station launched July 1, 1986. Cummings left the station in 1989 for CISL Richmond, retiring from broadcasting in 1991. He became a special education assistant at the Richmond School Board, a position from which he retired eight years ago.
