Evelyn Gigantes, 83, on Jan. 16. Born in Nova Scotia, but raised in Alymer, Que., Gigantes studied at Carleton University before starting her career as a broadcaster. Following her time as a host for CBC Radio Ottawa, Gigantes went on to become a three-term MPP and eventually serve in Cabinet. She was first elected to the Ontario legislature in 1975 in a byelection in the former riding of Carleton East and re-elected two years later. After losing her race in 1981, she won another byelection in 1984 in Ottawa Centre and was elected once again in the 1985 provincial election. Following another loss, she regained the riding in 1990, going on to serve as both housing and health minister in Bob Rae’s cabinet. Among other issues, Gigantes is best known for proposing and helping pass a contentious amendment to protect gays from being discriminated against based on their sexual orientation in 1986.
Thaioronióhte Dan David, 73, on Jan. 12. Born in Syracuse, David’s family moved to Kanehsatà:ke Mohawk territory when he was just four-years-old to help care for his mother’s parents. He worked for the federal civil service, among other jobs, before studying journalism at Western University under a special one-year program for Indigenous students. David started his broadcast career with CBC Radio in Whitehorse before graduation, eventually becoming the National Native Affairs reporter. He went on to produce for TVO and Vision TV. From there, he moved to South Africa, helping transform the South Africa Broadcasting Corporation from a government-controlled entity into a public news service before the country’s first democratic elections. He was later named Head of Television Journalism at the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism in Johannesburg. When APTN News launched in 2000, David served as the network’s first news director and later as Chair of Diversity at Ryerson University’s School of Journalism. After his return to Canada, he continued to help train journalists in Indonesia and Azerbaijan, and worked with Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) on a training program in Kenya sponsored by APTN. He was recognized in 2021 with the Canadian Journalism Foundation’s (CJF) Lifetime Achievement Award. Listen to his appearance on Broadcast Dialogue – The Podcast here.
John A. Pollock, 89, on Jan. 12. Pollock, born and raised in Kitchener, succeeded his father Carl A. Pollock as president of Electrohome in 1972. Pollock started his career at the electronics manufacturer as a factory line worker, rising to the position of CEO and Chairman. During his tenure, Electrohome diversified into large screen industrial display projection systems and expanded its television broadcasting division. In 1996, Pollock merged CKCO-TV and the company’s other broadcast properties and holdings in CTV with Baton Broadcasting, divesting its interest in CTV to Baton a year later. Pollock also served on the boards of numerous companies and organizations including Thyssenkrupp Budd Canada, Canadian General-Tower Ltd. and S.C. Johnson and Son.
