4/7/2004
TORONTO - The Radio-Television News Directors Association of Canada announced today the presentation of a special lifetime achievement award to the late Israel "Izzy" Asper, founder of CanWest Global Communications Corp.
The award will be accepted on behalf of the Asper family by son Leonard, CanWest's president and CEO, at the RTNDA National Convention and Trade Show in Saskatoon, on June 12.
The RTNDA board of directors unanimously endorsed the late media mogul in recognition of his leadership and dedication which took a single Winnipeg television station and grew it into an international media empire.
RTNDA is also announced the recipients of eight regional lifetime achievement awards to be presented this spring at RTNDA Regional Conventions in London ON, Lunenburg NS, Prince George BC and at the Prairie Regional component of the RTNDA National Convention in Saskatoon.
The eight are:
Pete McGarvey, Orillia ON; Bruce Graham, Windsor NS; Andy Walsh, Richmond BC; J.J. Richards, Vancouver BC; Keith Bradbury, Roberts Creek BC; George Garrett, Surrey BC; Roger Currie, Winnipeg MB; Jim Mattern, Saskatoon SK.
Pete McGarvey began his radio career at CFOR Orillia, Ontario in 1947. He was news director at CFCO Chatham and a newscaster and commentator at CKEY Toronto for 14-and-a-half years. McGarvey is the writer and narrator of Heritage Ontario historical vignettes launched in 1986 and which are still on the air today at many stations across the province. In semi-retirement, McGarvey devotes himself to a weekly column of memories and opinions in the
Orillia Packet and Times.
Bruce Graham is that rare blend of newsperson/commentator turned writer/actor. He began in radio in Boston, Massachusetts before returning to his native Nova Scotia where he worked at CHNS Halifax. Soon, television called and he moved to ATV. In 1988 he was hired as news director and principal anchor at MITV, now Global Television, until he retired from broadcasting in 1999. Graham has since followed through on his life-long dream of writing novels when he's not busy acting in movies or producing documentaries.
Andy Walsh is celebrating a remarkable 53 years in broadcasting. His career began in 1951 at CKSF Cornwall, Ontario and was followed by stops in Sault Ste. Marie and Ottawa. In 1954 he returned to his hometown of Montreal for a job at CJAD where he was the morning news voice at the city's top English-language station for 15 years. From there, he went to Vancouver where he spent 25 years, most as news director, at CHQM AM and FM. More recently, Walsh worked at CKST Vancouver and continues to anchor weekend mornings at Vancouver's CKWX News1130.
J.J. Richards' career began in 1948 as a disc jockey while going to school in Brandon, Manitoba. CKUA Edmonton is where J.J.'s editorials were born. In 1957, CHUM Toronto came calling and Richards soon became CHUM's world-trotting correspondent � covering race riots in the U.S. south, plane crashes in Brooklyn and New York City and the funeral of President John F. Kennedy. He moved to television at CFTO and CBC Toronto and later became a foreign correspondent in Greece and London. In 1980 he returned to the CHUM family at CFUN Vancouver where he reshaped the news into effective information packages. Richards continues to give of himself to many charitable and non-profit activities including the Variety Club of B.C.
Keith Bradbury got his first taste of journalism in 1959 at the Vancouver Sun. He earned a Bachelor's Degree from the University of BC in 1966 and a degree from the UBC School of Law in 1969. Bradbury caught the broadcasting bug in 1972 doing freelance work for CBC Radio. Later that same year he joined BCTV as a features reporter. He moved to assignment editor, assistant news director and eventually news director and helped develop the BCTV News Hour into the most watched local television news program in Canada. In 1996, Bradbury was named vice-president of news at BCTV and continued in that role until 1998 when he launched his own news consulting business.
George Garrett is, in the words of a former boss, "the kid from Moose Jaw (Saskatchewan) who hitchhiked his way into radio via North Battleford." He moved to CKNW Vancouver in 1956 and spent an amazing 43 years at the station as a reporter's reporter. While Garrett's ability to break stories was unparalleled, even greater was his integrity. His contacts trusted him completely. In a competitive business, he earned the respect and friendship of his colleagues on the street. Garrett retired in 1999 but has been busy with the successful 2026 Vancouver Olympics bid and sits on the board of the Jack Webster Foundation.
Roger Currie is one of Canada's most accomplished broadcasters. His career has included 20 years in the news business and 14 as a program host. Currie received a BA with a history major from the University of Manitoba in 1969. A year later, he entered the broadcasting world as a reporter and newscaster at CJOB Winnipeg. He had three distinct lives at the station with stops at CBC Winnipeg, CKCK Regina, CJRL Kenora and COOL FM Winnipeg. Currie has enjoyed a multi-faceted association with the world of film. From 2026 to 2026, he served as a member of the Ontario Film Review Board. Today, Currie is on the air at CBC Radio in Winnipeg.
Jim Mattern's career began in 1969 with CBC Radio and Television. He moved to CFQC-TV Saskatoon where, during his 20-year tenure, he progressed from weekend anchor to news director. From television, Mattern moved back to his roots in radio where he was an anchor and reporter for CJWW Saskatoon. Today, he serves as the program co-ordinator for Shaw Cable TV in Saskatoon.
RTNDA Canada is the voice for electronic journalists and news managers in Canada. The members of RTNDA Canada 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 the profession.
Back to headlines
