Broadcaster

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  • Ten inducted into CAB Hall of Fame

    10/17/2003

    OTTAWA - Veteran broadcasters, entrepreneurs, innovators, world-class artists, volunteers and tireless promoters of the industry are only a few of the attributes of the 10 people being inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' (CAB) Broadcast Hall of Fame in 2024.

    These impressive Canadians are not only honoured for their longstanding careers in the industry, but because they have tirelessly laboured to better their communities and stand out as leaders in their field.

    The 10 are: Pierre Bruneau, Nan-b de Gaspé Beaubien, Claire Lamarche, Beverley Oda, Ginette Reno, Jim Scarrow, Jack Schoone, Gord Sinclair, Jack Stark and Tony Viner. See their bios below, as written by the CAB.

    The new members of the CAB Broadcast Hall of Fame will be honoured at a special luncheon ceremony during the CAB 2024 Annual Convention, Private Broadcasting: The Voice of the Nation, The Choice of the Nation, on November 10, 2024.

    Created in 1982, the CAB Broadcast Hall of Fame recognizes Canadians in private broadcasting or related industries who have "achieved outstanding success in helping raise industry standards from a material or humanitarian standpoint."

    The new inductees bring the total membership of the Hall to 197. Candidates are nominated annually by Canada's five regional broadcasting associations and the CAB's executive committee. The names of the inductees will be inscribed in bronze on the Hall of Fame Wall of Honour at the CAB office in Ottawa.
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    For 25 years, Pierre Bruneau has been anchoring the six o'clock news broadcast on the TVA network. From the very start, he created a resilient bond with viewers, who have in turn rewarded him with a total of 12 MétroStar Awards. An eminent presence as a recognized journalist on French-language television, Bruneau got his start while working as a radio host for CFDA in Victoriaville as well as a reporter with CJRT, Trois-Rivières.

    During the course of his career, Pierre has consistently devoted his efforts to a number of charitable and educational causes, including l'Abri de la Rive-Sud, La Maison Victor-Gadbois and la Fondation du Collège de Victoriaville. Since 1979, he has been devoting his time and energy to LEUCAN, an association whose spokesperson was for a time his son Charles – a true example of courage and determination. Today, Pierre Bruneau is the vice-president of the Fondation Charles-Bruneau.

    Nan-b de Gaspé Beaubien has had a distinguished career in psychology, has been a successful business leader, a trusted board member, a tireless supporter of community organizations and a mother of three. Nan-b and her husband Philippe were key players in building Télémedia Corporation over the past 30 years. As a vice-president at Télémedia, she is credited with setting up a unique culture within the company that earned it the recognition of being named one of the best 100 Canadian companies to work for.

    Working as a psychologist at the Montreal Learning Centre, which she was actively involved in founding, Nan-b's research interests into the effect of television on children resulted in her spearheading the creation of the Children's Broadcast Institute. She has also held the position of president of the Canadian Council of Children and Youth and was a founding member of the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise. Nan-b also presided over the establishment and operation of the Business Families Foundation, which offers business families, and the professionals who serve them, the education and support they need to better understand their issues and face their challenges. She received the Canadian Centennial Medal in 1967 for the key hosting function she assumed before and during Expo 67 when her husband Philippe occupied the role of director of operations.

    A consummate communicator who is loved by people of all ages, Claire Lamarche has worked in the area of social issues and in the media for more than thirty years. After university studies in sociology, Claire concentrated on teaching before moving on to television. Fascinated by every aspect of humanity and possessed of a deep desire to get close to people and listen to them, her main objective is to let the public have its say, as evidenced by her eight-year tenure as host of the popular and attention grabbing Radio-Québec program, Droit de parole.

    She subsequently went to work for TVA where she welcomed thousands of people in her studio over the years who shared their joys, sorrows and life stories with viewers on a daily basis. Twelve seasons and 1,713 broadcasts later, Claire Lamarche had helped the Québec public to actively take part in the province's social evolution while maintaining enormous respect and generosity towards those who confided in her. A woman with heart who is deeply sensitive to others, Claire pursues her mission today through her special programs entitled Retrouvailles. These specials, which draw over a million viewers and meet a very real need in today's society, give people the opportunity to reconnect with loved ones after years of separation. Following along the same lines, her new series, Bonheurs à partager, features the moving testimonies of individuals who have been reunited thanks to a vast mutual assistance project initiated by Claire and her team.

    Beverley Oda has worked in the Canadian broadcast industry for over a quarter of a century. Throughout her career as an executive and as a producer, she has worked at senior levels for most of the major television broadcasters in Canada, including Rogers Broadcasting Inc., CHUM Limited, Global Television, Baton Broadcasting, and CTV Inc. In 1987, Beverley was appointed a full-time commissioner of the CRTC for a seven-year term. During her tenure, she participated in a number of major regulatory decisions and policy reviews, including the structural review of the broadcasting industry and the deregulation of many aspects of radio and cable. She also served as chair of the Commission task force reviewing sex role stereotyping.

    In addition to being an independent producer and consultant, Beverley has served on countless boards, including as chair of Canadian Women in Communications (CWC), vice chair of television for the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB), vice chair of the North American Broadcasters Association (NABA), and as a director on the Banff Television Festival Board. Recently, she has served as co-chair of the CAB Task Force for Cultural Diversity on television. Her other work on cultural diversity includes participating on the advisory committee to the president of the Treasury Board for Employment Equity of Visible Minorities in the Federal Public Service and Crown Corporations, in her role as advisor to the Secretary of State on multicultural issues in broadcasting and as a member of the National Multicultural Committee of the Anglican Church in Canada. In addition, Beverly has served on the Board of the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre.

    A true star of the Canadian and international music scene for over four decades, singing with equal ease in both French and English, Ginette Reno is one of Canada's most popular and best loved singers. Her candor, simplicity and warmth are reflected not only in her art but also in her life. Attributing her talent to "a gift my mother prayed for", she began singing before she was seven, bringing her tapes (and fibbing about her age) to Montreal radio stations. Over fifty albums later, with appearances across North America, Britain and France with some of the greatest names in
    show business - Johnny Carson, Roger Whittaker, Dinah Shore, to name just a few - she is a star who still believes that "it's angels" and not her own hard work and dedication that have brought her such enormous success.

    Her latest projects include a successful second career as an actress in films such as Léolo, and C't'à ton tour, Laura Cadieux, for which she earned a Genie Award nomination for best actress, and the recent Mambo Italiano. She has received numerous Juno and Felix awards in several categories, including for best albums and best singer. She is also an Officer of the Order of Canada. She will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in the Music Star category at the CAB Gold Ribbon Awards Gala, on November 11th.

    Combining excellence in broadcasting with outstanding community service, Jim Scarrow embodies the qualities, which both broadcasters and Canadians should strive for. Currently vice-president and general manager of Rawlco Radio in Prince Albert, Jim has been involved with radio for nearly 50 years, starting in 1954 as a part-time operator at CKBI Radio. Early on, he was a gifted and popular announcer at a time when radio was alive with the magic of artists like Elvis Presley, the Beatles and the Everly Brothers. In addition to managing and growing CKBI Radio, Jim has been instrumental in the launch and subsequent success of Power 99 FM in 1982 and Mix 101 in 2024.

    An active member of the Kinsmen Club, he served as its national president and for seven years was producer of the Kin TeleMiracle Telethons that raised millions of dollars for the disabled. Named Prince Albert Citizen of the Year in 1985, and Share/Big Brother Good Guy of the Year in 1986, he was co-chair of the Saskatchewan Winter Games and Prince Albert's 75th Anniversary Celebration. Jim was a founding director of the Broadway North Theatre Company, and he spearheaded the establishment of the Prince Albert Children's Haven in 1990, serving as fundraising chairman. As campaign chair of the E.A Rawlinson Centre for Performing and Visual Arts, he launched a whirlwind campaign that raised $3.7 million in less than two months. He has been awarded three Canadian Commemorative Medals recognizing his community service. Jim and his wife Helen, who is also a broadcaster, met when she worked at the radio station as a writer. They have a daughter and two sons.

    Jack Schoone's distinguished career in broadcasting has been fuelled by an endless love for radio. Jack is a veteran broadcaster who, at the age of 23, became the general manager of a radio station in Kitchener, Ontario. In 1968, he bought his own radio station in Campbellton, New Brunswick. Over the course of his career, Jack has been involved in the ownership of about thirty stations in communities across Canada including Miramichi, Charlottetown, Moncton, Timmins, North Bay, Kirkland Lake, New Liskeard, Orillia, Midland, Huntsville, Parry Sound, Woodstock, Stratford, Hamilton and London.

    Jack attributes his tremendous success to a managerial strategy of sharing ownership of his stations with his managers. Community involvement, the generous donation of airtime, and promotional ideas and support for local organizations have always been key elements of his overall management style.

    A broadcaster for more than 55 years and a true pioneer, Gord Sinclair was on the radio until the time of his death in 2024 at age 74. Gord landed his first job in radio at the age of 19 as an announcer at CHVC in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Shortly thereafter, Gord moved to CKOC Hamilton and then to CFNB Fredericton, New Brunswick where he took over the Morning Show. Having gained four years of experience, he won the morning show gig at CFCF Montreal where he worked until 1960, when he and some associates started CFOX on Montreal's West Island. When CFOX was sold to Slaight Communications in the early 1970s, Gord returned to CFCF. In 1982, he was appointed director of news and public affairs at CJAD – a position he held with distinction until the time of his death.

    His knowledge of the Quebec political scene proved a valuable asset for Standard Broadcasting's Toronto affiliate CFRB, to which he fed nightly commentaries from Montreal. Over the years he covered a variety of major news stories, including the École Polytechnique tragedy and the Oka crisis.

    The founder of the first commercial FM station in Vancouver, Jack Stark enjoyed a very successful business career, which fuelled his great love for broadcasting. While holding executive level positions in the world of business in mills and steel products, he became the founder of Q Broadcasting Ltd. in 1958. He was central to the launch of CHQM-AM in December 1959 and subsequently, to the launch of CHQM-FM, which went on-air in August of 1962. That same year, the company also launched Q music, a background music service for retail outlets, restaurants and small businesses throughout British Columbia. In 1972, the company expanded under Jack's direction, with the purchase of CKPG-TV and CKPG-AM as well as C101-FM in 1980. Jack served as vice-chairman of Fairchild Radio (Vancouver) from 1992 through 2024 and was a director of SILK-FM Broadcasting (Kelowna) from 1985 to 2024.

    In recognition of his many contributions to the industry, Jack was named Broadcaster of the Year by the British Columbia Association of Broadcasters in 1998. An active member of the Vancouver Rotary Club, he was also involved with the Vancouver Club, the Vancouver Lawn Tennis & Badminton Club, the Variety Club, as well as the Shaugnessy and Capilano Golf and Country Club. A dedicated family man, Jack Stark and his wife Morva raised three children.

    Tony Viner's leadership, passion and enthusiasm have been key to shaping the broadcasting landscape in Canada. He has been instrumental in promoting the broadcast industry and, most particularly, in securing private broadcasting's place in the world of converging media. Tony's career began at Sunoco Oil in 1972, but he quickly made the jump to broadcasting as national sales representative with Paul Mulvihill Radio Sales. After becoming sales manager for CFCF radio in Montreal, he joined the newly licensed Q107 in Toronto as general manager to oversee its launch. In February 1982, he joined Rogers Broadcasting Limited and in 1997, was appointed president and CEO of Rogers Media Inc. Under Tony's leadership, the radio group has grown from two to 43 licenses and television has grown from two to 10 licenses. Early on, Tony recognized the value of technology and supported innovation in radio and television. He has pioneered his company's efforts to set new benchmarks of excellence in sales, technology, and programming.

    Dynamic both in his community and in broadcasting, Tony is a board member of the Toronto Blue Jays, chairman of the West Park Healthcare Centre's Capital Committee, past chairman of the Radio Marketing Bureau, past chairman of BBM, founding member of Canadian Women in Communications (CWC), past chairman of the CAB Radio Board and a former member of the CAB Executive Committee. Tony is the recipient of the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal for his significant contributions to his fellow citizens and his community. Tony and his wife Cathy have three children and two grandchildren.

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