Peter Weissbach, Nov. 11, of cancer. Weissbach’s broadcasting career started at CJOR-AM Vancouver in the 1980s. In the late 80s, he made the move to CJCA-AM Edmonton where he stayed until 1993 when he moved into a talk show role at KBNP-AM Portland, OR. Over the years, he was also a host on KOGO San Diego, KVI AM 570 Seattle, and KIRO Seattle. From 2000-02, Weissbach hosted a nationally syndicated program from Broadcast Programming called The Quest which explored fundamental questions, such as who are we, why we are here, and where we go when we die. The show aired on a number of stations including KOMO Seattle, WHMP Springfield, KXL Portland, KXLY Spokane, KTVA Ventura, among others. Weissbach was also a favourite go-to fill-in host for a number of nationally syndicated programs. In later years, Weissbach was president of Seattle Building Maintenance, based out of Bellevue, WA.
George Vipond, 90, on Nov. 2. Vipond’s early career began in the Vancouver Sun photography department where he became a staff photographer, covering events around the Lower Mainland. He eventually found his way into television, a new medium at the time, and spent 30 years at CBC Vancouver as a supervising technician, colour coordinator and TV/quality control officer.
Roman Bittman, 76, on Nov. 7. Bittman, a trapper’s son who was born just south of the border between the Northwest Territories and Alberta, started his broadcasting career in high school as part of amateur efforts to relieve listeners in Hay River, NWT from the only radio their dial offered – Radio Moscow. Winning a scholarship, he headed to Toronto and studied at Ryerson, graduating in the mid-1960s. Bittman went on to work at CBC news and became producer of The Nature of Things. He later served as president of the Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation and designed and implemented the Nova Scotia Film Labour Tax Credit. Over the years he also worked with NFB and was an advisor in the early days of the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN). Bittman had over 100 production credits to his name, including producing and directing the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards.
Norma E. Browne, on Nov. 21. Norma and her husband Billy Browne Jr. relocated to Vancouver Island In 1959 and founded CFCP radio Ltd., which included CFPA Port Alice, CFNI Port Hardy, CFWB Campbell River, CHQB Powell River, and CFCP Comox Valley. Norma was an integral part of the business for 46 years, handling accounts and administration while her husband managed the station. Following his unexpected death in 1990, Norma took over as CEO and continued to run the business, alongside her family. In 2005, she made the decision to retire and sold the company.
