TORONTO – Seven broadcast journalists will be honoured this spring with lifetime achievement awards presented by RTNDA Canada – The Association of Electronic Journalists.
The seven are Doug Collins, Vicki Gabereau, Vern Coop, Mike McCourt, Tom Young, Dan McLean, and Gord Harris.
The awards will be presented at the RTNDA Regional Pro Dev Seminars in Kamloops on April 26th, in Calgary on May 10th, Fredericton on May 31st, and at the Central Awards Banquet June 19th during the RTNDA National Conference in Ottawa.
“On behalf of RTNDA Canada, let me congratulate these exceptional broadcasters,” said Bob McLaughlin, President of RTNDA Canada. “The RTNDA Lifetime Achievement Award is one of the highest honours bestowed in our industry and these recipients are very deserving of this award.”
RTNDA Canada, representing electronic journalists and news managers, created the award in 2002 to recognize individuals who have distinguished themselves through outstanding service and continued excellence during the course of their career in broadcast journalism.
42-year veteran Doug Collins entered the business right out of high school, taking a summer job with CBC Radio in Prince Rupert. In the early 70’s, he made the move to Kamloops, where he began his long relationship with the city’s heritage station CFJC TV/JC-55/CIFM.
Vicki Gabereau is a three time ACTRA Award Winner for best radio host-interviewer and Canada’s “Queen of Talk”. After running for mayor of Toronto in 1976, her radio career took off, working for CBC in Toronto and Edmonton, before being named host of CBC’s “Variety Tonight” in 1981. After making her mark with an hour-long evening interview program, “Gabereau Live” was launched on CTV in 1997.
Calgary’s Vern Koop joined QR77 (CHQR) in 1975 and has been reading the morning news ever since. That means for many Calgarians, he has been the voice they wake up to for 32 years.
Mike McCourt, now with Citytv in Calgary, has been in the broadcast industry for more than 40 years as a reporter, anchor and commentator. Among other achievements, he was the first Canadian television journalist in Communist China, interviewed PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat, and interviewed every Prime Minister from Diefenbaker to Mulroney.
Tom Young has been a leading talk show host and journalist in New Brunswick for more than three decades. Each weekday on “The Afternoon News with Tom Young” on Rogers News-Talk stations in Saint John, Halifax and Moncton, he navigates listeners through the real issues and concerns facing Maritimers today.
Dan McLean began his career with CHCH-TV in 1972 and has been the station’s main anchor for 25 years, becoming the face and voice of news in Hamilton, Halton and Niagara. In addition to his newsroom responsibilities, he has hosted hundreds of local charity events and fundraising galas.
Gord Harris, currently Program Director at AM640 (CFMJ) in Toronto, has been in the broadcast news industry for over 30 years, 29 of those as a morning news anchor. He taught journalism for over 25 years at Fanshawe College and the University of Western Ontario, and operated a private radio news and voice consulting business. His list of awards includes many RTNDA Sam Ross Awards for Best Radio Commentary.
