Media Centre > News Releases > Archive > 1996 > October 29, 1996

Radio & TV stations strike gold with sterling performances

EDMONTON, October 29, 1996 -- Ten radio and eight television stations from across Canada today received their industry's highest awards for the year's best news and information programs and community projects.

The prestigious Gold Ribbon Awards were presented at the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) convention, during 'Broadcasting '96', in Edmonton.

Of 173 entries in eight categories, judges were most impressed by station fund-raisers, which accounted for eight of nine Community Service Gold Ribbons. But the real winners were the many food banks, hospitals and orphanages receiving the millions of dollars and tons of food and toys collected by local broadcasters.

BCTV, Vancouver, with three Gold Ribbon Awards, was tops overall and the only multiple award winner. It was honored for the "innovative and unique" campaign, 'Food for Friends' (Community Service), which tripled the previous year's food contributions to 35,000 pounds. BCTV also won for the $120,000 one hour, interactive special, 'Youth Violence: What's Out There' (Information program) and for 'BCTV Early News - It's News for Me' (Promotion: News & Information Program).

Other television Community Service winners were:

CFQC-TV, Saskatoon for 'Tree of Plenty', which raises food and money to help more than 3000 people a month. Supportive activities included news stories and interviews, as well as PSAs valued at more than $30,000 in air time. "A well integrated and highly successful promotion," said the judges.

CISA-TV, Lethbridge for 'Flood of the Century', a "timely documentary, produced under severe conditions, that proved valuable to viewers and victims." CISA-TV supplemented its ongoing coverage of the area's worst flooding in 100 years by quickly producing a documentary of the devastation, selling copies of the video to launch a disaster fund, and offering to help other communities with similar relief projects.

CFRN-TV, Edmonton for 'Good Neighbour Fund Society', an ongoing project that anonymously helps needy Albertans pay such things as relocation costs, tuition fees and rents, and assists crime victims and the handicapped. CFRN-TV advertises the fund, pays administration costs and takes part in money raising events. Judges said the fund "shows extensive in-house support and is innovative in uncovering a whole sector of underprivileged people."

On the radio front, a new Gold Ribbon category for 'Best Morning Show' was introduced this year. The winner was CFNY-FM, Toronto for 'Humble for Premier', from the popular 'Humble & Fred Show'. Ontario premier-to-be Mike Harris made an on-air commitment to eat his words in public if, after becoming premier, he didn't cut taxes by 30%. Humble & Fred agreed to do likewise if the promise was kept. Harris later made the tax cut and returned to CFNY-FM to spoon-feed the broadcasters a cake facsimile of the signed accord.

CKAC, Montreal's high powered two hour 'Journal du Midi' Quebec Referendum specials earned it top honors as best Information Program Radio. On consecutive days in the week before the referendum, hot line host Gilles Proux brought YES and NO leaders Bouchard, Charest, Parizeau and Marois face-to-face with local citizens at a popular working class tavern. "Bringing NO people into the heart of YES territory was a gutsy move by CKAC," said the judges.

CHUM/CHUM-FM, Toronto's balanced, up-to-the minute, 'seamless' coverage of the Quebec Referendum won the radio Gold Ribbon for News. Cited as a "crisp production reflecting the urgency and emotion the country was feeling," the coverage highlighted four-times-an-hour feeds from the YES and NO camps to anchors in CHUM studios. On-the-scene veterans Bob Summers and Paul Cross were fully equipped to report, do interviews and edit, as well as communicate with each other and the stations.

CKNG-FM, Edmonton won in the Canadian Talent Development category for 'Power Picks', an exhaustive three month search for the city's most promising talent. Backing its search with 360 PSAs, CKNG-FM and partner Quality Music picked six finalists from 45 entries. The station contributed $75,000 towards a CD and video for the winners, held a CD release party, and backed the disc with 175 spots. CKNG-FM was commended for providing "a great opportunity the bands might otherwise never get." The five radio stations honored for outstanding Community Service were:

CKNW, Vancouver for its long-running 'Orphans Fund Charity' that has raised a whopping $24,500,000 since 1945. The money pays for thousands of Christmas gifts, an annual kids' picnic, scholarships for disadvantaged students, and bursaries for single parents. It helps fund cancer treatments, research on pediatric immunology and counseling for street kids. CKNW was cited for "tremendous stamina in running an enormously successful campaign for more than 50 years."

CFCA-FM/KOOL-FM, Kitchener for the 'KOOL-FM Poster Boy Campaign', during which morning man Neil Hedley spent 30 days atop a billboard platform to raise $105,000 for United Way. Other staff collected donations, dug up auction items, lined up guests and organized barbecues and car washes. KOOL-FM contributed $200,000 in air time. Judges cited the "huge personal commitment by Hedley and major commitment by the station."

CJOC, Lethbridge for 'Care From the Heart', a 12 hour special "that recognized a growing need in the community due to health care cuts." Featuring dozens of Canadian performers and interviews with doctors, nurses and patients, the campaign raised $424,000 in 1995. CJOC airs PSA's in the month leading up to the show and follows it with pledge reminders and 'thank you's'.

CKOV/CKLZ-FM, Kelowna for its "innovative and very professional" 'Care About a Kids Room Campaign' to help needy children in the Central Okanagan. Ongoing support includes volunteer staff time, PSAs and, in conjunction with the TD bank, paying all administration and promotion costs. CKOV/CKLZ-FM's first major goal is raising $500,000 for a Children's Health Centre at Kelowna General Hospital.

97 KISS-FM, Vancouver for 'Christmas Wish Latre-Morning Breakfast', a complimentary breakfast at the Pan Pacific Hotel that collects new toys for local Christmas Bureaus. Hosted by Fred Latremouille and Cathy Baldazzi, the 1995 event accounted for over 35% of the Bureaus' toys. KISS-FM prompted toy collections among companies, schools and neighbourhoods and contributed $75,000 in station resources. The station was praised for "fulfilling a very important need at Christmas."

The television Gold Ribbon for News went to CFCN-TV, Calgary for its coverage of Southern Alberta's devastating 1995 flood. The station hired a helicopter, booked satellite facilities and threw its entire Calgary and Lethbridge news teams into the front lines. One reporter stayed up all night covering the human side. Other staffers tracked the flood on maps and alerted endangered communities. CFCN-TV was praised for "excellent, well-paced coverage that exemplifies what local news is all about."

A tie in the television Entertainment category earned Gold Ribbons for CKCK-TV, Regina for 'Both Sides of the Border' and CFTM-TV, Montreal for 'Cha Ba Da - Spécial Garth Brooks'.

CFTM-TV's winning entry had Grégory Charles hosting a memorable special with North American great Garth Brooks. Judges praised CFTM-TV's "high quality production values," which, they said, "exemplifies local broadcasters' outstanding production skills and values."

CKCK-TV's winning production supported Canadian country music acts through high quality videos. Judges praised the show as "a true grassroots production reflecting outstanding Canadian talent." After airing the special, CKCK-TV promoted the videos with TV and radio spots. Performers used the videos to further their careers.

CITV, Edmonton won Gold for the promotion 'ITV-It's Ours', a "simple, creative and innovative" series of 'scenarios' that focus on the unique characteristics of Edmontonians to build a strong awareness of the station's bold logo.

Radio promotion winner was CJEZ-FM, Toronto for 'Launch of the EZ Rock 97.3', a "captivating, well-targeted and well produced campaign" which featured four days of commercial-free programming, as well as ads on TV, in transit shelters and in magazines.

The Gold Ribbon for Engineering Achievement was awarded to Tak Negoro, former Vice-President of Engineering at BCTV, Vancouver, in recognition of his lifetime engineering achievements and valuable contribution to the broadcasting industry as a long time member of the CAB Technical Committee. Recently retired, Negoro began his engineering career with RCA Victor. In 1964, he became Project Manager for broadcast consultants, Hoyles Niblock and Associates. He joined BCTV in 1979, where his contributions included creating the BCTV pavilion at EXPO '86, building a mobile TV production unit, rebuilding the newsroom, and introducing robotic cameras.

There were two winners of the Gold Ribbon for Outstanding Community Service by an Individual Broadcaster, in memory of slain Ottawa sportscaster Brian Smith. They were John Davidson, Community Relations Coordinator at CFPL-TV, London and Ed Whelan, sports personality at CICT-TV Calgary 7.

Davidson raised more than $1 million to fight Duchennes Muscular Dystrophy by pushing his teenage son, Jesse - terminally ill with the disease - from the Ontario/Manitoba border to Ottawa in a wheelchair. The four month, 3,300 km trek greatly increased awareness to the urgent need for research dollars and earned a standing ovation in the House of Commons. CFPL-TV later broadcast 'Jesse's Journey: A Marathon of Love' and sold hundreds of the tapes to raise additional funds. The Medical Research Council of Canada is contributing a dollar for every three raised. The 'Journey' will continue with annual "family walks" each Spring.

Whelan is a member of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and, in a city-wide vote, was declared Calgary's 'Personality of the Century'. A winner of many community service and humanitarian awards, he has served as president of the local Variety and Rotary Clubs and as Honorary Chair of Minor Hockey Week. His vast volunteer and charitable activities extend to many organizations, including the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation, the Special Olympics, the Boys and Girls Club, and the Children's Miracle Network Telethon.

Earlier in the convention, nearly $20,000 in scholarships and awards were presented to talented Canadian communications students and industry achievers.

Winner of the first annual $5,000 I.H. Asper Broadcast Business Leadership Award was Laura Mellanby, Supervising Producer of CTV Sports, for demonstrating outstanding entrepreneurial skills in creating and developing the successful youth sports program, 'Bigshots'. In partnership with YTV, Mellanby worked on all aspects of the show, from creating the concept, fine tuning the budget and defining the complicated business relationship, to hiring talent and advising on set design and editorial content. Renewed for a second season, 'Bigshots' has won critical acclaim and exceeded expectations in ratings and financial performance. CanWest Global Communications Corp. sponsors the award to assist talented individuals build on their skills and further their careers in broadcasting.

The $5,000 Radiomutuel Scholarship (formerly the Raymond Crépault Bursary) went to Nathalie Chaperon, of Ste-foy, Quebec, who is taking a Master of Public Communications course at Laval University. Chaperon has been a volunteer at community radio station CFLX 95.5. Radiomutuel established the Scholarship in 1975.

Winner of the $2,500 Jim Allard Scholarship was Helen Fallding, of London, Ontario, who is taking a Master of Arts journalism course at the University of Western Ontario. Fallding's extensive broadcasting experience includes service with Northern Native Broadcasting, Yukon and the CBC, Whitehorse. CAB established the Scholarship in 1983 to honor students "who best combine academic achievement with natural talent." Allard was CAB executive vice-president from 1953 to 1973.

Raymond Eugene Costain, of Toronto, received the $2,500 Bureau of Broadcast Measurement Scholarship. Costain has 12 years broadcasting experience and holds a BA in Political Science from York University. BBM honors CAB'S important role in broadcasting and helps develop skilled researchers "who may be of future benefit to the Canadian broadcasting industry."

Three Ruth Hancock Scholarship winners will be awarded $1,500 cheques at the local CTV affiliate station closest to their homes. They are Kate Gower, Adrienne Lamb and Sheldon Ens. All three are taking a Masters of Arts course in Journalism at the University of Western Ontario and currently reside in London, Ont.

Sponsored by the CTV Network and Broadcast Executives Society, in co-operation with the CAB, the Hancock Scholarships honor candidates who 'best exemplify the admirable qualities' of the late Ruth Hancock, a long-serving CAB executive.

The scholarship program is an important part of private broadcasting's human resource development policy.

For information contact:

Susan Tolusso
Director, Communications
(613) 233-4035 ext. 331
(stolusso@cab-acr.ca)