TORONTO – Long-time Citytv reporter, specialist, producer and anchor David C. Onley was appointed as Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario yesterday by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
“David Onley is a respected author, broadcaster and tireless champion for persons with disabilities. Through this work, he has demonstrated the qualities needed for such an important position,” said the Prime Minister in a statement announcing the appointment. “He has loyally served the province and his country in a number of roles, and I’m confident as Lieutenant-Governor, he will continue to do so.”
Born in Midland and raised in Scarborough, Onley, who was stricken with polio at the age of three, joined Citytv as a science/weather specialist in 1984. Since then, he has served as an education specialist, a science and technology specialist, a news anchor, and producer.
He was one of the first on-air personalities with a physical disability in Canada. In 1996, he received the Clarke Institute’s Courage to Come Back award, and in 1997 he was inducted into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame. He was also awarded the King Clancy Award for Disabled Persons and remains active with the Canadian Foundation for Physical Disabled Persons, the Ontario March of Dimes, and Variety Village. 
Onley (pictured) is the best-selling author of Shuttle: A Shattering Novel of Disaster in Space, nominated for Periodical Distributors of Canada book of the year. He and his wife Ruth Ann have three sons: Jonathan, Robert and Michael.
"David Onley, through his work as a journalist and as an advocate for the disabled, has dedicated himself to helping make our province a stronger and fairer society where everyone can be at their best," said Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.
"I have no doubt that Mr. Onley will represent our province with tremendous pride."
