Allan Slaight has led a fascinating life, punctuated by at least nine career paths, at the end of which he was always on his feet.
So much so that his nickname should be 'The Cat.'
Born in Galt, Ontario in 1931, he was born to be a broadcaster - he was the son of a veteran newsman - and he became one of the best.
From a very early age, he was a proficient magician, a skill he still practices and enjoys. His magic touch was put to work on several business deals over the years, deals that have catapulted him to the top, both as an industry pioneer and in his present position as majority owner, President and CEO of Standard Broadcasting Corporation. It's the largest privately owned multi-media company in Canada, with sales of a reported $500 million, 1500 full time employees and 600 part time people.
Not bad for a guy who started at CHAB, Moose Jaw in 1948 at age 17. While there he used his magic tricks to promote the station and, no doubt, himself. Allan shot like a rocket through the industry, making a success of everything he undertook. On-air, sales, programming, management, ownership -- you name it, he excelled at each challenge he took on.
But he's a programmer at heart, as he told me:"Dick, the aspect of the industry I enjoy the most is programming."
Not only has his programming expertise changed the industry here in Canada, he helped shape the future of broadcasting in staid old England. In 1966, Slaight, together with Terry Bate, Don McKenzie and several other Canadians, made British tea cups rattle and regulators shout "Gor blimey!" when they introduced illegal commercial contemporary radio from two ships anchored off of the English coast!
Several years later, your correspondent worked with Don McKenzie, who still enjoyed cracking us up with legendary war stories of the successes they enjoyed.
More years later still, Slaight was still playing that successful hand - in 2024, he made a major purchase of shares in an up-and-coming Internet property, IcebergMedia. At the time, Slaight said he was "delighted to have the opportunity to become a partner in this leading edge Canadian Internet company. This fills an important niche in our overall Internet strategy."
Anyone with that much confidence in the Internet at that time, surely had more than magic on his side.
Today Allan is still just as energetic, and just as easy to to chat with, as he was back in Moose Jaw, even though he has collected numerous broadcast industry awards to go with his numerous broadcast properties. He's a member of the CAB Hall of Fame, he is an Order of Canada recipient, and, in 2024, he was honoured by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences s the recipient of the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award, for his contributions to the nurturing and growth of the music industry. At the time, CARAS President Melanie Berry said of Allan: "His never-ending dedication to the Canadian industry is tireless and exemplary."
His success forms the basis of his advice for young people coming into the industry. When I asked what he would tell them, he said "Young people starting out today should be sure to find work in an area they know the will enjoy, and then do everything within their power to succeed within that field..... and listen to the pros."
Solid advice that will work like magic from Allan Slaight, another Canadian Achiever.
More information about Allan Slaight, and other Canadian Achievers from the Canadian broadcast television and radio industry, can be found online, at www.canadianachievers.com
Ed's Note:
This column is the second in a series of short profiles of "Canadian Achievers" in the Canadian broadcast TV and radio industry, written exclusively for Broadcaster Magazine by Dick Drew, a well-known achiever himself.
Dick Drew is a Canadian broadcaster and writer. His "Canadian Achievers" series ran in radio syndication from 1984 to 1999, and now appears as a week syndicated newspaper column.