TORONTO – Ron Laidlaw, who helped create Canada’s first hour-long evening newscast has died.
Laidlaw passed away last night in London. Ron Laidlaw was 88 years old. Ron served as RTNDA’s second president in 1965-66 and was the first news director of CFPL Television in London, a position he held from 1953 until his retirement in 1985. Under his leadership, CFPL became the first station in Canada to establish an hour-long evening newscast and the first to convert to colour.
"It’s fitting that RTNDA chose to name its award for continuing coverage after Ron," noted current RTNDA President Cal Johnstone. "His longevity as News Director is a metaphor for the importance of sticking with a story."
"On a personal note, Ron and I had been e-mailing each other as recently as a couple of weeks ago. I was trying to convince him to appear in a videotaped message for our next convention. But although he preferred to remain on the sidelines of the broadcast industry, I always knew he was watching."
Ron is survived by his three children. At his request, no funeral service is planned.
