Jennifer Campbell-Palmateer, 43, on Feb. 6, after an eight-month battle with cancer. Originally from Charlottetown, P.E.I., Campbell was working at a bar in Midland, ON when Paul Larche recruited her to work at CICZ-FM when she was just 19. A 1998 graduate of the Humber College Radio Broadcasting program, Campbell went on to a 16-year career with Rogers where she was most recently one-third of Mornings with Campbell, PJ and Billie on Country 106.7 (CIKZ-FM) Kitchener. She also did a stint as a talk show host with sister station 570 News (CKGL-AM), served as a talent mentor, and annually covered the CMA Awards in Nashville for the Rogers’ country network. A GoFundMe fundraiser has been organized for the family. Read more here.
Mike LeBlanc, on Feb. 5. LeBlanc’s broadcasting career ranged from filling in as a weather announcer on CFCN-TV in Lethbridge in the 1990s to several stints as a station manager. While serving as Operations Manager at CKVN Lethbridge, LeBlanc concurrently served as the in-game announcer for the Western Hockey League’s Lethbridge Hurricanes for more than a decade, up until 2012 when he was transferred with Golden West Broadcasting to Fort Saskatchewan, AB. LeBlanc was the founding station manager of Mix 107.9 FM (CKFT-FM), eventually moving into a consulting and sales role in 2015. LeBlanc was heavily involved in the community, acting as president of the Fort Saskatchewan and District Chamber of Commerce in 2017-18 and volunteering with the Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital Foundation, local Rotary Club and the NCHL Fort Saskatchewan Chiefs. He also served as the PA announcer for the Edmonton Eskimos Football Club for the 2019 season.
Jim Bay, 79, on Feb. 4, after a two-year battle with bone cancer. Originally from Mount Royal, Bay had experience at CFCF (CTV Montreal) and CBMT-TV Montreal, before landing at 980 CKGM as sports director in 1977. With his booming baritone and 6’4” physique, he earned the nickname “Big Jim.” CKGM decided not to renew his contract in 1982 in a move to reduce sports coverage. Bay went on to work with CJAD throughout the ‘80s, as well as CBC 6 Television. Bay’s five-decade broadcasting career also included work as a narrator and commercial announcer, in addition to pursuing directing and acting.
Robert (Bob) Cameron, 71, on Jan. 31, due to Covid-related respiratory complications. Cameron began his broadcast career in 1971 when he was hired as Master Control Operator at Sask Alta Broadcasting’s CKSA-TV Lloydminster, after completing the two-year diploma program at Confederation College in Communication Arts. Owned and operated by Arthur and Mary Shortell, Cameron spent his entire 46-year television career with the company, working his way up to retire as Manager of Television Programming for both CITL-TV and CKSA-TV in 2017. Cameron was well regarded in the industry for his depth of knowledge from CRTC policy to local program development, but his interests expanded well past television with a passion for food, sports, music and literature.
