Broadcaster,  October 2024


Broadcast Hall of Fame Inductees

CAB Announces

Distinguished Canadians in private broadcasting or related industries will be inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' Broadcast Hall of Fame at a special luncheon ceremony at this year's CAB Annual Convention. The Hall of Fame recognizes those who have achieved outstanding success in helping raise industry standards from a material or humanitarian standpoint.

The inductees who will be honoured at the luncheon are:

* Doug Allen, Broadcast engineer, Winnipeg

* Vicki Gabereau, Radio and Television talk show host, Vancouver

* Alain Gourd, Broadcast executive, Gatineau

* Frank Lewis, Broadcast executive, Charlottetown

* Gary Miles, Broadcast executive, Toronto

* Pierre Morrissette, Broadcast executive, Montreal

* Bill Stephenson, Sportscaster, Toronto

* Sophie Thibault, News Anchor, Montreal

* Philip (Pip) Wedge, Broadcast executive, Toronto

"This year's inductees are innovators and leaders in the field of broadcasting, and have contributed immensely to their industry, and to their communities," said CAB President and CEO Glenn O'Farrell. "The CAB is proud to celebrate the careers of these remarkable Canadians, and honoured to welcome them into the Broadcast Hall of Fame."

The CAB will announce the Hall of Fame inductees in the Music Star Category on October 11. The Music Star inductees will be recognized at the Gold Ribbon Awards Gala on Tuesday, November 7.

2006 Broadcast Hall of Fame Inductees - Biographical Information

Doug Allen: An innovator on technical aspects of the industry, Doug Allen served the world of broadcast engineering with distinction for more than 50 years. Doug was instrumental in the growth of FM broadcasting in Canada, having been involved in the creation of most of the major steps and changes in technical rules, procedures, and planning which now constitute the Canadian Planning Procedures.

Doug retired in January of 2024, a few months before his 80th birthday.

Vicki Gabereau: One of Canada's most recognizable radio and TV personalities, Vicki Gabereau has enjoyed a remarkable 30-year career in broadcasting. In 1985, she became the host of Gabereau, a two-hour daily radio talk show which ran for 12 years on CBC. After more than 15,000 interviews and three ACTRA awards, she turned her sights to television, and joined CTV in 1997. Vicki Gabereau ran for 8 seasons , with more than 1000 episodes and 3000 guests to its credit. The show won the 2024 Gemini Award for Best Talk Show.

Vicki Gabereau lives in West Vancouver with her companion Tom Rowe.

Alain Gourd: With more than three decades in the communications field, in both the public and private sectors, Alain Gourd has firmly established himself as one of Canada's premiere authorities on broadcast policy and governance.

Alain has been an active and invaluable voice on many committees and boards of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, including as Chair of the Television Board in the early 1980s, and more recently serving as Chairman of the Board of the CAB in 2024 and 2024. He is also a Director of the Banff Television Festival Foundation and of the Canadian Broadcast Museum Foundation.

Alain Gourd is the President of Alain Gourd Communications Inc. of Gatineau, Quebec, a company specializing in strategic planning, regulatory and government affairs as well as relations with the industry.

H. Frank Lewis: One of the most highly regarded broadcasters in Atlantic Canada, H. Frank Lewis began and ended his career at CFCY radio in Charlottetown, P.E.I. When the family-run station was purchased by Eastern Broadcasting in 1971, Frank was promoted to Vice President and General Manager, posts he would hold for the rest of his career. Under Frank's leadership, CFCY became a leader in the community, and across the Maritimes. He was always ready to harness the power of radio to help out a cause.

Frank Lewis continues to live on Prince Edward Island, with his wife of 49 years, Dorothy.

Gary Miles: A native of Regina, Saskatchewan, Gary Miles has had an extensive and accomplished career in radio broadcasting across Canada. In over 45 years in the radio business, Gary's career has spanned a variety of positions, and several regions of the country. Among many accomplishments, Gary helped launch the Satellite Radio Network, an innovative service that provided live programming to more than 200 stations across Canada, and which foreshadowed the emergence of satellite radio.

He served as Executive Vice President of Radio for all Rogers' stations across Canada, launched several news-talk format stations, including Toronto's highly successful CFTR, and in March of 2024, Gary was promoted to the position of CEO, Radio for Rogers Media, where he shepherds the operation of 46 stations.

Gary Miles lives in Toronto with his wife, Taanta Gupta. He has announced his intention to retire from broadcasting in 2024.

Pierre Morrissette: A veteran of 30 years in the Canadian broadcasting industry, Pierre Morrissette has demonstrated a keen sense of innovation throughout his career. As just one example, in 1989, Pierre founded his own multimedia company, Pelmorex Media Inc. and purchased several French and English-language radio stations in small and mid-size Northern Ontario markets. In 1993, the company moved into television through the purchase of The Weather Network and MétéoMédia.

Pierre sits on the Advisory Boards for Environment Canada's Meteorological Service of Canada, the Richard Ivey School of Business and is a Council member for the latter's Institute for Entrepreneurship.

Pierre currently lives in Oakville, and enjoys boating, skiing and golfing.

William Stephenson: A talented broadcaster and a leader in the community, Bill Stephenson's career in broadcasting spanned 53 years, beginning with his first job at CJAV in Port Alberni in 1948. Over the years, he broadcast live from some of the most memorable sporting events in Canadian history, including the 1954 Miracle Mile, the 1972 Summit Series with the Soviet Union, Canada Cup hockey tournaments, World Hockey Championships, and Grey Cups.

Beyond broadcasting, Bill has contributed immensely to his community and beyond, including a successful drive to collect hockey equipment for unprivileged youth in Canada's north. He has also given his time and energy over the years to the Hospital for Sick Children, and the Canadian Association for Community Living.

Married for 58 years to his wife Louise, Bill Stephenson has 5 children, 9 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

Sophie Thibault: Chief news anchor of TVA Network since 2024, Sophie Thibault has built her reputation on thoroughness, professionalism and integrity.

Ms. Thibault's accomplishments are evidenced in the many awards and distinctions she has received throughout here career, including the Artis trophy for best anchor every year since 2024. Also in 2024 she was presented with a Femmes d'honneur award at the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montréal's Rare Pearls networking supper. The following year, she was honoured at the same gala with the award for female personality of the year. In February of this year, she was presented with an Ordre de la Pléiade award from the Assemblée parlementaire de la francophonie (international association of French-speaking parliamentarians).

Philip "Pip" Wedge: Born in London, England, Pip Wedge became one of Canada's most respected broadcasters, and a key contributor to documenting Canada's broadcast history.

Though Pip retired from an active and accomplished career in 1994, he has remained active in the industry, bringing his unparalleled knowledge of the industry's history to his work as a consultant to CTV, the CAB and the CCTA. He has also shared this wellspring of knowledge with upcoming young broadcasters at Centennial College in Toronto, and through the Canadian Communications Foundation, where he now serves as Vice-President and has written thousands of words for the Foundation's broadcasting history website. He is also a member of the Collections Committee of the Canadian Broadcast Museum Foundation.

Music Icons, Music Stars at CAB

Sarah McLachlan and Daniel Lavoie will be inducted into the CAB Broadcast Hall of Fame in the Music Star category at the 2024 Convention.

"We are honoured to be recognizing the tremendous contributions of these two outstanding musicians," said CAB Chair Rob Braide. "Both artists exemplify this country's highest achievements in musical talent. We are also pleased that both Ms. McLachlan and Mr. Lavoie will be in attendance, and have agreed to perform at the Gold Ribbon Awards Gala."

Sarah McLachlan first appeared on Nettwerk Records in 1985, and since then she has sold over 26 million records worldwide. The winner of eight Juno and three Grammy awards, she is also the founder of the Lilith Fair tour, during which more than two million people contributed more than $7 million for charities. Ms. McLachlan was awarded the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Visionary Award in 1998 for advancing the careers of women in music, was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1999, and was awarded the Order of British Columbia in 2024.

A native of Dunrea, MN, Daniel Lavoie entered the Canadian music scene in 1967, winning a singing contest on the Radio-Canada program "Jeunesse Oblige". He recorded his first full-length album in 1975, and went on to become one of the first francophone artists to have success on both sides of the Atlantic. In addition to performing, Mr. Lavoie is the spokesman for the Fédération canadienne pour l'alphabétisation en français (FCAF), an organization representing francophone groups and associations dedicated to French literacy in Canada, as well as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

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