TORONTO – The Association of Electronic Journalists said Monday that nine people will be honoured with the 2007 RTNDA Canada Lifetime Achievement Awards.
The awards will be presented at the RTNDA Regional Pro Dev Seminars in Toronto on April 28; Regina on May 12; Halifax on June 2; and at the BC Regional Awards Banquet on June 21, during the RTNDA National Conference being held in Vancouver.
The 2007 RTNDA Canada Lifetime Achievement Award recipients are:
Gord Martineau of CityTV Toronto. Gord Martineau has been the face of CityTV for 30 years. But he got his start in radio right out of high school. His first job was at CFDR-AM in Halifax in 1967, then he moved to the news department at CJAD in Montreal – Gord’s hometown. He started his television career at CJCH in Halifax, before heading back to Montreal to become the weekend anchor at CFCF-TV. Gord was lured to CityTV in 1977 by Moses Znaimer and has helped shape the station’s news coverage ever since. Gord was nominated for this award by City’s Stephen Hurlbut who says, "I have had the distinct pleasure of working with Gord for the past 28 years. Gord has been our professional ground zero as the newsroom evolved and refined its intensely local focus." Gord not only spends countless hours in the newsroom but supports numerous charities. He is an accomplished leader in both the community and the broadcast news industry.
John McKay of Broadcast News Toronto. With almost 40 years of service to Broadcast News and The Canadian Press, John McKay retired from full-time duty this past year. John was a mere 24 years old when he joined BN Toronto in 1967. Today, he has one of the best known voices and bylines in Canadian journalism. John has covered it all from the colourful Trudeau years to the Academy Awards. Nominator Terry Scott says "News is the blood that runs through John’s veins and I would challenge a journalist half his age to keep pace with him."
The late Bill Sturrup of CHML Radio Hamilton. Bill Sturrup worked tirelessly for CHML for 45 years and was a local radio and sports icon. As a reporter, he was everywhere – city hall, the courts, police headquarters and, naturally, the sports venues. Many knew him as the voice of the Ticats, Bulldogs and other local teams. As an avid film buff, Bill was the president of the Toronto Film Society. Bill lost his battle with cancer earlier this year at the age of 68. In the words of CHML Program and News Director Jeff Storey, "We’ve lost a legend."
Elmer Harris of VOCM Radio St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Elmer Harris is a former President of RTNDA Canada and lifer at VOCM Radio who retired from broadcasting in 2000. "Elmer is a forward-thinker who moved VOCM and its network newsrooms into the technological age early when he introduced computers in the 70’s and a website by the mid 80’s," said Past President Gerry Phelan who nominated Elmer for this prestigious award. Elmer worked his way from a rookie reporter to Vice President and Assistant to the President at VOCM Radio and for over 40 years was an integral part of the station.
Paddy Gregg of Rusagonis, NB. "Donald Edward ‘Paddy’ Gregg is one of the true characters of Canadian broadcast news," says Del Archer who nominated Paddy for this honour. Paddy began his career in 1952 in his hometown of Fredericton when the Daily Gleaner hired him as a writer. In 1954, he left the print media to join radio station CFNB, working at the same time for British United Press. He then made the move to CBC radio and television news in 1956. He was a correspondent who was posted to such bureaus as Edmonton, St. John’s, Halifax and Toronto as well as reporting from Saigon at the height of the Vietnam War.
Bob Ridley of CHAT Radio Redcliff, AB. Bob Ridley started his broadcasting career in college at CJDV in Drumheller, Alberta. He got his first full time gig at CKSW Radio in Swift Current in 1964. Bob has been with CHAT since 1968 where he is currently the Sports Director. He has covered every sporting event imaginable during the course of his career and recently accomplished 35 years of play-by-play broadcasting for the Medicine Hat Tigers.
Wayne Mantyka of CTV Regina. Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Wayne Mantyka began his broadcasting career in 1972 as a radio reporter. He worked briefly for CFSL Weyburn and later that year moved to Regina radio station CKRM. He joined CKCK Radio and Television in 1975. CTV Regina News Director Carl Worth, who nominated Wayne, says, "Wayne’s career mirrors the growth of television news. He has filed reports to film and videotape. He has told stories in black and white and later in colour. He’s been a reporter with a cameraman and now is a video-journalist at CTV Regina who shoots, writes and edits his own stories."
Gary Hanney of Global TV Vancouver. Gary Hanney has been a camera operator at Global TV for over 40 years. In the words of nominator Ian Haysom, "Gary has covered many of B.C.’s biggest stories over those four decades, including Clifford Olson, the Johnson-Bentley murders, escapes from Ken Prison, a major plane crash at Vancouver airport, and every provincial and national election race. His work is always thorough, professionally shot and dependable."
Ben Meisner of Prince George BC. Ben Meisner started his broadcasting career at just 17 years old at CKDM Radio in Dauphin, Manitoba. Ben has been a radio and television newsman, commentator, a news director and talk show host. "He is immensely popular with listeners, viewers and readers for his fearless and prickly relationships with municipal councils, the Government, owners and operators of the community," says Del Archer, a long time friend and colleague of Ben who nominated him for this prestigious honour.
"On behalf of RTNDA Canada, let me congratulate these exceptional broadcasters, said Bob McLaughlin, president of RTNDA Canada, in a release. "The RTNDA Lifetime Achievement Award is one of the highest honours bestowed in our industry and these recipients are very deserving of this award."
The Lifetime Achievement Award was created in 2002 to recognize individuals who have distinguished themselves through outstanding service and continued excellence during the course of their career in broadcast journalism.
RTNDA Canada is the voice for electronic journalists and news managers in Canada. Its members recognize the responsibility of broadcast journalists to promote and to protect the freedom to report independently about matters of public interest and to present a wide range of expressions, opinions and ideas. The RTNDA Canada Code of Ethics, adopted by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council, is used to measure fairness and accuracy in our profession.
