HomeLatest NewsVeteran newsman and programmer Ted Farr...

Veteran newsman and programmer Ted Farr signs off

Veteran broadcaster Ted Farr has passed away just days after going public with an esophageal cancer diagnosis.

Already a throat cancer survivor, Farr wrote in a post to his social media channels on Sept. 29 that treatment options were being investigated, but that the cure rate was quite low.

“It drops even lower when you eliminate surgery from the treatment options,” wrote Farr. “Given the location of the tumor, the surgery would be radical, traumatic and lifestyle altering. Not recommended for a person of my age.”

He passed away Friday. Farr and his wife Terrie had just celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary.

Ted Farr

He began his radio career in 1969 after leaving Phys. Ed studies at Vancouver Community College to pursue broadcasting. He made his debut as a news and sports announcer on CKLG Vancouver using the on-air handle “John Edwards.” In 1974, Farr joined CKY Radio in Winnipeg, quickly rising to the position of News Director. He returned to CKLG in 1977 to hold the same position there, contributing as morning news reader “Tall Ted” on the Doc Harris Show. From there, he joined the predominant country station in the market, CKWX, where he had a decade-long run as Program Director. He went on to hold management and programming roles at CJOB Winnipeg; CHQR and Power 107 (CFGQ-FM) Calgary, where he served as Operations Manager and concurrently National Program Coordinator, News Talk Radio for Western International Communications (WIC); and Rawlco Radio’s Newstalk 650 (CKOM-AM) Saskatoon and Newstalk 980 (CJME-AM) Regina where he held the title of Vice-President, News and Talk Programming.

Farr went into consulting in 2008, working with Bohn & Associates, talent coaching at Vista Radio, and working in broadcaster relations with radio solutions provider, Mega Music Canada. After 37 years behind-the-scenes, he made his on-air return in 2018 as News Director and Midday News Anchor at iHeartRadio’s AM 1150 (CKFR-AM) Kelowna, a position he still held at the time of his passing.

Farr was inducted into the B.C. Country Music Association Hall of Fame in 2011. A former vice-president of the association, he helped B.C. artists like Lisa Brokop, Ron Irving, Larry Wayne Clark and Patricia Conroy advance their careers and created the CKWX Songwriters Competition, which established a link between West Coast songwriting talent and Nashville.

Ted Farr

He’s being remembered as a mentor and leader by former colleagues, including Nesta Matthews, who called him “a great teacher and a wonderful man.”

Mannie Buzunis, who Farr hired at KY58 in Winnipeg, proclaimed the late broadcaster “a true legend.”

“What a Newsroom under his direction,” wrote Buzunis, in a tribute on the Radiowest.ca forum. “Writing was one of Ted’s primary skills, and in the days of 20/20 News, you better get it right every time, all the time. Ted was a genuinely a nice person…he cared about those under his direction. Thanks to Ted and his mentorship, I moved up the ladder quickly, and took over as ND when he departed. In subsequent years, we occasionally kept in touch. I was so pleased to see him return to his roots…writing and reading great Newscasts, and I know along his career route, he impacted positively hundreds of broadcasters. A true legend, and for me, an unsung hero.”


Subscribe Now – Free!

Broadcast Dialogue has been required reading in the Canadian broadcast media for 30 years. When you subscribe, you join a community of connected professionals from media and broadcast related sectors from across the country.

The Weekly Briefing from Broadcast Dialogue is delivered exclusively to subscribers by email every Thursday. It’s your link to critical industry news, timely people moves, and excellent career advancement opportunities.

Let’s get started right now.

* indicates required

 

SUBSCRIBE NOW - IT'S FREE!

At Broadcast Dialogue®, we are committed to delivering industry-leading insights, news, and analysis directly to your inbox—completely free of charge.

By providing full / accurate information, you are helping us sustain Broadcast Dialogue® as a free resource. In return, we commit to delivering high-quality content that keeps you informed on the latest trends, technology, and news shaping the broadcast landscape—at no cost to you.

The Weekly Briefing from Broadcast Dialogue® is delivered exclusively to our subscribers by email every Thursday.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Your Subscription Information

Your Name
Your Email Address
Broadcast Dialogue uses this information to understand our audience and deliver relevant content.
Broadcast Dialogue uses this information to understand our audience and deliver relevant content.

Your Company Information

A Couple Of Questions

Do you consider yourself retired?
Are you seeking employment opportunities?

Connie Thiessen
Connie Thiessenhttps://broadcastdialogue.com
Connie has worked coast-to-coast as a reporter, editor, anchor and host at CKNW and News 1130 in Vancouver, News 95.7 and CBC in Halifax, and CFCW Edmonton, among other stations. With a passion for music, film and community service, she led News 95.7 to a 2013 Atlantic Journalism Award and regional RTDNA award for Best Radio Newscast. More recently, she was nominated for Music Journalist of the Year at Canadian Music Week 2019. To report a typo or error please email - [email protected]

Latest News

Christian Hall to join Toronto’s CHUM 104.5

Bell Media has announced that veteran programmer Christian Hall will join Toronto's CHUM 104.5 as Heidi Baiden moves over to the company's syndicated programming...

CMPA data shows 18.5% year-over-year production volume decline

Total TV and film production volume was down by 18.5% in Canada compared to last year, according to data released by the Canadian Media...

Events / Conferences