2026 RTDNA Central Region Awards Livestream — Transcript

Is this not exciting, you guys? We're kind of giving you like a mini galla before the gala. It's like a free gala before the gala. Um, thank you all so much for coming. It's nice to see. We had to add seats. That is a bonus. So, this is amazing. And you guys have room. Last year we were all kind of like, you know, crammed together and um but this time around we uh were able to sort of mingle and enjoy each other's company and uh breathe the air, etc. So, welcome to the 2026 RTDNA Central uh regional awards. Welcome to all of you.

Uh before we begin, uh we would like to acknowledge the land that we are on and we have a video to run for that. Bouritas top treaty 13 Toronto purchase Missagas of the Credit First Nation Mino Williams Treaty Inos Missagas Kog and Chen Treaty for

the wenge. Okay. Um I have to say this year's entries as they were as they are every year, but they were phenomenal and they were really hard to judge. Um if I could, every single entry would have gotten an award, but it is a testament to the work that all of you do each and every single day. um journalists, not just as journalists, as part of us as a society around the world, but primarily where my pride is where Canadian journalism really does shine. And uh we saw that again in the entries, not just for the regional awards across the country, but then the national awards as well. So um looking at who we have on the roster today is very exciting. Um and again, it's a testament to the incredible work that you've all done.

So, thank you again and thank you for entering and thank you, of course, for giving us um RTDNA your support as we want to continue to extend our support towards all of you. So, with that being said, you'll notice we're here at Senica College on the York campus in this incredible room. And if you have a moment, if you could turn to your head, your your attention to the back of the room to all the individuals that you've seen from registration um who have been putting their stuff together here. These are the Senica College students that for you have put all of this together. They have produced it. Um we've got reporters that are doing interviews and we'll interview you later on. They're going to get that experience and get to interview the iconic people in this room. But this is all part of what we want to do for RTDNA. You've all been through it and at some point we pass the baton while you're looking at some of the people we're going to pass the baton to. So I want to thank Senica College. um I walked in here and was completely blown away. So, um we're looking to continue

this relationship and expand it, but it kind of starts here. So, a big thank you to all of them for everything that they've done. Uh and with that being said, um we're also kind of live streaming this as well. Hello to those that couldn't come. Um I hope you're watching and I hope you enjoy the awards and enjoy as we'll be able to honor uh some of your loved ones uh as well. But we wanted to provide that for those who weren't able to make it. So, um, we're trying to sort of hit it in all grounds. Um, we will have the gala coming up in November, but RTDA on its own is looking to, uh, expand things. I'm sure some of you received, uh, you know, in in the central region, uh, the notice about Google. We've repartnered with Google and, uh, we'll be having a phenomenal um, training session, if you will. It's really kind of like a lunch and networking session is what I like to call it, but it's AI and YouTube. and we're looking to try and expand that further with Google. Uh, but they've come on board again this year bringing some really top experts and it's all happening at Google offices which is really cool. If you've never

been, it's pretty amazing. So, we've got that happening as well. Our uh futures uh student program continues to expand. We'll be starting that up again in November. If you know students, any of you that are teaching um Senica students as well, certainly apply. It is a great experience, great exposure. is with CTV right now, but we're looking to expand it to the various newsrooms, uh, Global, City, CBC, CHCH, etc., and and be able to give students in those regions opportunities. We will also be having a mentorship program starting up in the fall and that is a national mentorship program where we've now partnered up with some incredible journalists currently working some who are veterans in all areas from you know radio, television, uh digital production, camera work, editing. Um if there's other categories that we will add in there, we certainly will because we can't do our jobs singularly. we do them as a team and then and and the people that are on those teams and make us look pretty up here um are really the heroes

behind all of it. So we want to be able to provide students um with that kind of expertise um as well. So um there we go. And you're probably if not already wondering this lovely lady standing next to me. It's not just because I'm don't want to be up here by myself, but um uh Mary Neessarin was our incredible uh awards chair. she has stepped down from that position, is still heavily involved with RTDNA, but Lauren Tooffen, who's standing next to me here, uh producer at CTV, uh CTV's Your Morning, uh one of my former Chase producers when I was over at CTV, um has graciously come forward and her expertise, uh will be brought to RTDNA as our new uh chair of the awards committee. So, Lauren, welcome. And uh Lauren has a few words. Thank you. Uh, Angie, thank you very much. Uh, yes, my name is Lauren and thank you for welcoming me. Um, I I do want to say a few words and I I find that especially

as as a young journalist, as a millennial journalist, um, recognition in this day and age for the work that you do every day, it's rare. It it doesn't happen very often. And I find that in the industry that we're in now where we're constantly trying to either push back or avoid job cuts, dealing with influencer news, the threat that AI can do it better, um having an organization like the RTDNA to help support you, showcase your work, help young journalists grow, it's vital. And and so I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity and uh thank you uh for um putting up with me while I give out the awards.

And uh yeah, let's have a good day. Um there's no game tonight, so you're stuck here. Enjoy. >> Yeah. Sorry about the Jays, guys, but um anyway, um before we get started, uh two gentlemen in the back there, you may have heard gotten introduced. Joseph and Ethan are our journalism students back there. um they're there to talk to you, take interviews. We want we they've already done a few already. We're going to post those up on our website because again, it's all about celebrating and it's a huge opportunity for them. So, give them a couple of minutes of your time and appreciate being I know not for some of you don't like to be, but being on the other side of the mic and maybe answering a question or two would be great. Okay, so the reason they're all here is the awards. So, I think we should get get things going.

>> I think so, too. >> All right, let's do it. Okay, so for audio, the best podcast. Here are the nominees and the winner is CBC Montreal. This is Montreal. Can you hear me now? There you are. Congratulations.

Okay, breaking news large market. Here are the nominees and the winner is CBC Montreal. Missing toddler found alive after desperate search. All right, breaking news. Small medium market. Uh we had here's a nominee and the winner is AM800 CKLW Dier to close Crown Royal Bottling Plate in Amisburg.

Okay, we will uh we will hold on to the award for we'll hold on to the award. All right, excellence in editing. Uh here are your nominees. Okay, great. CBC Toronto Jerusalem Youth Chorus Being One Voice, Excellence in Sports Reporting.

Here are your nominees. And the winner is CBC Ottawa Hockey and Hijabs. New to Canada and the sport, these girls have found their game. We will also hold on to this award. Feature news large market. Here are the nominees. And the winner is CBC Toronto volunteer Paulbearers very unclaimed by Okay, feature news small medium market.

The nominees, I know there's a lot of CBC here. I'm sorry, guys. The winner is CBC Sbury, The Magic of Horsecraft. Okay, we will hold on to that award and we'll go to the next one with CBC live special events nominees are here and Montreal gets it again. CBC News CBC Montreal CBC News Quebec 2025 to the opinion category. The nominees are and CBC Ottawa break takes it. The winner is CBC Ottawa, CBC Ontario today, shoplifting through eyes of the shoplifter.

Uh the um news Oh, sorry. Here we go. Uh radio newscast at large market. the nominees and the winner is CBC Montreal CBC Radio News at 8:30 for November 27th, 2025. Next category, radio newscast, small medium market. We had one uh c one entry for this one and the winner is there we go 570 news radio waterl region am newscast we will hold on to that one all right for digital breaking news large market here are your nominees and the winner is CBC News Montreal organized crime figure dead two others injured in shooting at l Starbucks oh what do you

Okay. Uh, let's see here. >> Right there. Oh, that's you. Okay. Okay. >> Excellence in data storytelling. It's a It's hard to tell who won this one because there's only one uh one entry, but there's the entry and here's the winner. All right. CBC Ottawa. Well done. 2/3 Ontario school boards a deficit or just breaking even. Uh over to excellence in social the nominees. Let's see who's going to take it. Toronto, London, Montreal. It's like a fight. Okay, here's the winner.

CBC Montreal. Understand the impact of tariffs and the tariff war. I know. I know. There we go. YAY. UH, excellence in sports reporting. The nominees are, and this was a hard one, by the way, but come on back, CBC Montreal. Here's the winner. And the winner is CBC Montreal. Every NHL jersey has made is made in Canada, but US tariffs could change that. We will not let that happen.

Okay, over to you, Lauren. Feature news. Large market. The w the nominees are great police in Asia's shri death identified CBC Toronto. All right, feature news small media market. The nominees are CBC Quebec. This Quebec man is losing his voice. An AI tool is helping bring it back to life.

Hey, you're welcome. >> I know. No kidding. I should just have like a bin and be like, "Here you go." Anyway, news live special events. The nominees and the winner is cp24.com, Ontario Votes. That was fun. Opinion.

The nominees. H. And the winner is, come on back. CBC News Montreal. I didn't vote for 21 years. Trump's attacks on my homeland in Canada changed everything. overall excellence in digital. The nominees and the winner is CBC Ottawa, a piece of home.

We'll hold on to it for multiplatform continuing coverage. Large market the nominees CBC News Toronto Blue Jays playoff coverage. No, no. >> ZTV. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Sorry. >> ZTV Toronto. >> Congratulations, CTV. Congratulations, everybody. Okay. Uh, continuing coverage, Small Medium Market.

The winner is CBC Thunder Bay, Bringing Percy Home: First Nation Family Repatriots Ancestors Remains. Okay, we'll hold on to it for enterprise journalism. The nominees and the winner is CBC Toronto Gridlocked The Way Out.

Now remember, it's not easy coming up here every single time. And we're all friends and love each other. So we can can be loud and ruckus even if it's a bit repetitive. In enterprise journalism, small medium market, the nominees and the winner is CTV News Barry, Eyes in the Darkness, the hidden cost of roadside zoos.

All right, excellence in innovation. Here are the nominees. And the winner is CBC Ottawa. Still positive. The next category, excellence in writing large market. Here are the nominees. And the winner is CBC Ottawa shooting 50 years later. Next category, excellence in writing, small medium market. Well done, Barry.

Come on up. Here's the winner. CV News Barry. Eyes in the darkness, the hidden cost of roadside zoos. Over to excellent, sorry, investigative excellence. Here are the nominees. And the winner is CBC Montreal, the rise and fall of Canada's alleged grandparent, Scan King. Over to the video category. Fancy. Anyway, uh in the audiovisisual storytelling, here are the nominees and the winner is Rogers TV, Sus Marie Bashinko. So again the red dress.

Next category is breaking news large market. Here are the nominees and the winner is global news Toronto. Delta plane crashes at Pearson airport. Multiple people injured. Over to the next category, breaking news, small medium market. Elbows up indeed. Okay. And the winner is well done, Barry. CDB News Barry. Double murder. Uncovering the horror of the city's core.

Excellence in camera work. This is one of our new categories. So, I'm really excited that we had uh the submissions that we did. So, I'm really happy about that. And the uh winner is CBC News Montreal. Montreal. Um oh, ATV, excuse me. Go deep inside Hidden Cave and Senov. Excellence in editing. Let's take a look at the nominations. And the winner is CBC Ottawa. Is Bula fled Chile after the coup. Now he's telling her story.

Excellence in sports reporting. Here are the nominations. And the winner is CBC News Montreal. Does Quebec City stand a chance at a pro hockey team. Y. All right. Excellence in video. The nominations. And the winner is CBC Ottawa spelling the chime.

Feature news large market the nominees and the winner is CBC News Montreal the UB story from Muppet DNA to hold on Montreal's heart. Oh, hey. Congratulations. Future news small medium market. The nominees and the winner is CHCH News Hamilton Patrol and Open Drug Use in Hamilton.

Yay. Yay. News live special events. The nominees and the winner CBC Toronto Blue Jays in the World Series. Oh okay.

Opinion. We had one opinion. CBC Montreal. Montreal was the only one that had an opinion at all. There he is. Air India bomb still victim's loved ones. It's a great coverage. What do you know? All right. Newscast Large Market. The nominees and the winner is CTV News Toronto, CTV News at 6.

We're flying through these just so you guys know. I know. Which is great. Which means we have more mingling and eating time afterwards. >> All right. TV TV TV newscast small medium market. The nominees and the winner is CTV News Barry State of Emergency Unprecedented Action in the City of Barry. Congratulations. Thank you. VJ video the nominees and the winner is CTV News Montreal digging up the past in the creation of Chasabi.

There's anyone from CTV that can come and grab this award would be great. All right, everybody. Congratulations. >> Yes, congratulations. Thank you all. Now, we're not quite done yet as every year we also have uh a level of special awards that we like to hand out. We do it for the regionals and we do it for uh our national awards as well. national awards are a little more in depth, but we do like to recognize in each region um our recipients for the lifetime achievement awards. And we have four uh recipients this year that I'm very excited to uh to honor. Um one of them, the first one that I would like to honor um uh his daughter Tara. Hi, sweetheart.

We can all kind of wave to the camera there because she's watching online right now. Um she put this nomination um in honor of her late father, Donald Dard. And I'm sure a lot of you know who that is. Uh but to give you a little bit of background of uh of his life and his legacy in radio for him, it all started in the 60s with uh C8 uh CFOs in Owen Sound where he kind of really learned the craft and developed himself as Dazzling Dawn. Then he had his Toronto break in the mid60s. Moved to C CKFH1 1430 uh and then of course to CKFM uh for a few years there. It was a massive run. He spent nearly 20 years then at 99.9 CKFM. He wasn't just a host. He was a Toronto institution and it took he took them to the top ratings. Then there was the journey over to CHFI where he spent many years there. Um it was huge.

He was an anchor of that morning show for over a decade. He was the veteran morning man and the main draw for the station right up until he retired back in 1999. Donald was a destination broadcaster. People didn't just stumble onto his show. They tuned in specifically for him. He set the gold standard for what a morning personality should be. Warm, funny, and incredibly consistent for four decades. We have a little little video to show you here.

as I mentioned. There you go. Yes, as I mentioned, his uh his daughter unfortunately couldn't make it, but we know that she's watching um online right now, but she did send this to me that I'd like to read to you if you don't uh if you don't mind. She wrote, "Between you and me, I think I only asked him once, her dad, why aren't you in the Hall of Fame?" And he gave me some lame reason that he thought, well, why he hadn't been overlooked or perhaps it just didn't make any sense to her. So back in 2020, she decided to take the ball, get the ball rolling and see if she could get him recognized for all his contributions to radio and television.

Unfortunately, the time COVID hit and everything came to a halt. Well, in 2025, she decided to try again. And even though her dad had passed, she still wanted to honor his legacy. She says, "My dad was a good man. He was a good person. He had integrity. He gained success simply by being himself. He was funny. He was kind. And I want him to be remembered. and I'll certainly never forget him. I wish this could have happened while he was alive, but I'm grateful for this. So, um, we want to thank Donald in spirit for everything that he did. If you tuned in onto radio, then you know what we're talking about. But that's sort of part of the legacy here and the legacy now we see in this room.

So, if we could give him uh in spirit a round of applause, I think his daughter would appreciate that. And we will make sure Tara gets that award. Alec Gordon, CBC. Uh, this note penned in recognition of Alex's retirement pretty much sums it up. Alec has spent 40 years with the CBC. He was the first host of Tutivik and over the four years of for the decades the show has been on air, he established himself as the voice of Nunovic. Alec is a true professional who has demonstrated commitment and passion for his work and dedication to his audience. His departure will be a big loss to this organization, not only in corporate knowledge, but also in quality journalism and radio programming.

I know his listeners are also feeling this. In a letter penned to Alec, Maggie, a mudluck, chairperson of the KRG said, "Your career is a case study that should be taught in every school of journalism in the country. Rarely have there been journalistic voices that both inform and inspire. In the stratosphere of McLuhan, Simpson and Jennings, you are among the pantheon of great journalistic minds that we have been privileged to read and to hear. Her words truly encapsulate the impact Alec has had over the years. Alec's career should inspire all of us. He demonstrates what can be achieved by focusing on our audience's needs and being stalwart in his commitment to programming that kept Noniviet informed for 40 years. I've always appreciated Alex's fierce protectiveness over all aspects of Tutivik's programming and for the accuracy of reporting on Nunovik. I also appreciate that he has done that with patience, kindness, and a focus on guidance.

Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat. Uh, we'd like to invite Melinda Dalton up to uh, accept the award. filming for you.

>> Our next lifetime uh achievement award recipient is Dwayne Worth, CHCH. Over four decades at CHCH TV News, Dwayne Worth has distinguished himself over and over again as a consmate news professional. As a camera operator, he has shot every scene imaginable and has interviewed countless people from the man on the street to the highest tier of politicians and celebrities. His wisdom, advice, and experience helped me become a better journalist and field reporter, and I'm one of many who have benefited from his mentorship over the years. He understands everything about this business from serving on the front lines of Canadian journalism. There is no camera operator I would rather work with in the field. And as he nears the end of his career, I can't think of anyone more deserving of this prestigious honor. I hope you look closer at him and his illustrious career and consider him strongly.

>> 1979 when Tario came to my high school and it was actually on global so their big mobile pulled up. I saw them bring the cameras in. I saw them do the lighting. Fred Davis and Fay Dance were the hosts and I went, you know, that's pretty cool. I realized that there's a roadie crew that works in television as well. So signed up at Mohawk College, got in. Second year at Mohawk, I won the CHCH award and the deal was you get a summer job. We had one of the best crews in Canada. That crews were sought after by every company. So I got on the mobile crews and for 25 years I worked on the mobiles. All of a sudden Olympics are coming around. CBC would need a large crew. I got to do replays on Olympics. I did six different Olympics. So the experience at CH in the mobile production crews led me to all these places around the world that I thought never in a million years I would get to.

Even when we had production shows, we were community-minded. Tiny talent time. We had a show called New Faces, which brought in new talent. It was all about the community. It was all about Hamilton and the surrounding area. Same with News Now. People know us. I hope I can stick around for a few more years. >> Dwayne, come on up, my friend. >> And we would love it if you could say a few words. >> They're not going to let you leave. You got to say something.

>> There's a reason I'm behind the camera. I'm totally shocked by this. I'm totally shocked that my family showed up here. They told me they were playing hockey and going out. Um, I want to thank Ken Roman with Channel Zero. They came in 17 years ago and rescued CH and I thought we were in a dark area and I don't think you're getting the appreciation that you deserve. You've really kept us going and uh I appreciate it because CH has a soft spot in my heart. I watched it growing up and now I've been there 45 years. So, thank you guys. And uh I'm gonna be around for a few more.

>> Congratulations. >> I have one final uh lifetime achievement award. Um well, long overdue. Robert Fiser spent 49 years doing what all of us love to do in this room. Tell stories. Ask the tough questions. Get the answers. He had a remarkable career in broadcasting, distinguished by his outstanding coverage of Ontario politics over a period that spanned eight premers. His career began in 1967 at a 1000 watt radio station in Oakville, Ontario, from where Fischer would go on to work in both radio and television at the CBC, eventually earning a job as well as Global's Queens Park correspondent. Former host of Metro Morning and now host and then and now host of the current Matt Galloway said this about Robert when he retired.

quote, "There's no more knowledgeable there's no there's no one more knowledgeable when it comes to Queens Park politics than Robert Fischer. He's one of the classiest people in broadcasting, a versatile journalist, distinguished by his humble approach, repertoire, uh, wit, and flare for the written word." Fischer's work spanned radio and television and column writing for CBC. His insight played a pivotal role in CBC's political coverage of Queens Park. and he says one of his big career highlights includes meeting US broadcast legend Walter Kankite. One of my big highlights in the room with me tier.

>> Well, let's show a video. >> Hello, I'm Robert Fischer and welcome to Dline Ontario >> television. Robert, this is one of the last times we're going to be on set together. >> I know it sort of feels like I'm waiting for the polls to close. You know that moment where the the pit of your stomach is all knotted up and you're just waiting for the go ahead from the control room to talk. But it it seems, I must tell you, like the 49 years have just kind of gone by. >> There are some very serious environmental concerns. Concerns that cars like this spew out a kind of carbon soot.

>> Good afternoon. I'm Robert Fischer down. >> I met Robert years ago in university. He taught me then and you may not realize it. I've been learning from him ever since. >> Robert Fischer, CBC News, Toronto. Robert Fischer, CBC News, Sudbury. Robert Fischer, CBC News, Fort Francis. I'm Robert Fischer and that's Queens Park Notebook. I'm Robert Fiser at Queens Park. >> Wow. >> You know that walking standup I did in front of that car dealership? Truth be told, I took about 20 takes of trying to do it. You would >> Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you everybody. It's been uh it's been amazing. I uh can't say anymore.

There's got to be more dancers in that room. >> Congratulations, Robert. Come on up. get to have to stop.

There is no time limit. There's no orchestra here to play me out. I've was in the business for 49 years. I've got lots to say. Uh firstly, uh uh this is this is pretty damn significant. uh recognition of of one's body of work over 49 years. Uh it sort of flew by. Like all of you in this room, I had some great moments and some not so great moments.

Um covered big stories and little stories. Covered two car accidents in Hamilton. I never worked at CBC Montreal, >> but after tonight, I wish I had. >> Hiring. >> Well, you know, I I Angie, I this this award got me thinking the other day that um I keep getting these notifications from LinkedIn that say, "You'd be perfect for this anchor job." And, you know, maybe maybe there's something to you know, resurrect in terms of a career. Um, in all seriousness, uh, to Angie and to RT DNA, it was RTNDA when I was changed up.

>> Uh, to the board and all of those who made this possible, it's um, it's wonderful. Um, away from broadcasting and the organization are two people who are here tonight sitting in the front row. She's already starred in the video. my wonderful wife of 50 years, >> accompanied by my extraordinary daughter LAURA.

>> I'm I'm lucky because I have critics at home, but I also have a fan club. Uh my son would have been here from Montreal uh but but couldn't make it. But, uh, I know I know he's here in spirit. You know, 49 years, that's that's a lot of radio and television. Uh, as you mentioned, I started at CHWO, the White Oak station 1220. And it got me thinking as I was preparing for tonight that my first radio blooper that happened in Oakville followed by the name of Mike Kramer as an announcer and he and I had been set out to cover a a fair of sorts run by the Rotary Club of Oakville. I had to walk around the the scene and come back and tell Mike what I what I what you found and you know basically promotion for the Rotary Club. So Mike said, "So what have you seen?" And I said, "Mike, I just came back from an amazing place. It's a

house of horrors." And I stopped. A house of horrors. Nobody in management ever said anything about that. But I have to tell you, it may be a coincidence, but attendance the next day at that fair was absolutely extraordinary. I had a chance to work in Montreal. Is somebody here from CJD? I spent um gosh, seven, eight years in Montreal.

uh fortunate enough to work with some extraordinary people who taught me a lot about radio uh and covered many big stories. The first one was the Quebec crisis, the FLQ crisis of 1970 and from that the resurrection of the Pratikqua and the election of a former broadcaster on Raja Canada Leec moving to Toronto covering the Missaga train derailment. The veterans here would remember that. I remember hiding under a CBC News car when the tank cars blew up.

I was out all night and I called my wife in the morning and I said, she said, "So, how was it?" I said, "I feel fine. I have burning in my eyes, in my throat, my armpits, and my legs, but other than that, I I survived it." And then um I I think one of the things that that everybody here would know um is that broadcasting has changed a great deal. In my era there were jobs, lots of them. But don't don't get discouraged you folks in the back row because there is a future in this business and you can fight to keep it. Okay. There was also money. So, we got to travel and do investigative journalism and and series, you know, five-part, six-part series and also create some programming. So, one of the things that I look back on over the time I was in radio and television was the creation of a program at Global called Focus Ontario.

It's still on the air. I think it's the longest running show Global's ever had. And next to Survivor But there's similarities between the two. You know, it wouldn't be the first time I was voted off the island by a guest. Uh but it was something that uh you know, I had to convince management of. They said, "Well, you know, who wants to watch three journalists interview the premier for half an hour and I said, you know, I think at this point in time, people want more than that 10-second clip. They want some context. They want something longer. let them judge what the clip from the program ought to be and the and the show was in spite of the host um was a success. People did you know watch week after week after week in 12 years I did hundreds of these shows uh met some amazing people and and global secured great ratings. So I'm very proud of that.

Also a couple of messages I it's been going through my mind getting ready for tonight. Okay, Angie was very circumspect, which is an understatement, about what tonight was all about. Uh, but you know, you're around 49 years, you've got questions you're going to ask, right? So, and if they're going to drive from Ottawa, you know, um, the business was so different and and so much better, but it it it, you know, there's so many people out there that are still practicing in this business, radio and television, and doing a superb job. I haven't seen any of the presentations that were made for awards here, but I am certain they were all just absolutely excellent. Some of which I heard from because I listen to CBC Ottawa because we live in Ottawa, but others I I know we're just excellent and you should be all very proud of that that plaque that you have received. It's a recognition of the the amount of work that you put into this these jobs. These these specialty reports are not easy to do.

The other thing just briefly because I could go on forever and Angie's being very patient with me. Um to the students who are here um go out and and follow that dream. If your dream is to be a radio reporter, a television reporter, a producer, your camera, whatever, uh follow that dream. I did. It started in oak in Oakville, but it really started at Algangquin College in Ottawa in 1967. That's a long time ago, Angie.

Um, but it gave me a great start. And so it it's so important for me to be in another college setting that is turning out the journalists of tomorrow because that this is where my career started. I I did spend some time at Carlton. I I taught at a college in Toronto, enjoyed it immensely. There there were to be people in this audience that I actually taught uh and who became very successful people because they were they were great journalists even at the university level. You could see it. So pursue the dream. But the important thing I think is to remember that you want to set a compass. You know the your ethical compass know that you're on the right track. um and never never move from that track even though there may be costs involved and I I speak from personal experience because it's important uh the job of reporting today especially today is so important it you know I never used to think of this until some somebody

asked me about this years ago the just business is the defender of of of democracy it it is so important to be part of that process and to Always remember that your commitment is to solid reporting and to the people who listen, watch, and read your material and don't let anybody try to take you away from that path because it's just simply too important. So to wrap up because I think Auntie wants to get to the snacks.

Um, no she doesn't. She said take an hour Robert. my my family who are here would know that I could probably do two hours in in fact people often ask do I miss the business and I said well yes I do I really do I miss the great people I worked with who taught me helped you know the other night I went to the fridge and get some milk I opened the door the light went on I did 10 minutes on on Doug Ford and there was no applause but then There were no threats, no pushing and shoving, whatever else. But um on behalf of my family and myself, I am deeply honored to receive this award.

Uh and I accept it on behalf of all of the people over 49 years that I got a chance to work with. The camera operators who are always amazing people, you know, walking backwards in all kinds of weather, carrying, you know, that thing you had on your arm, my god, that weighed about 50 pounds. uh everything has changed in the media today but you know with people like you that that saved me more than once and the the guys who I worked with women I worked with at at global and CBC they were great so to um the association thank you again this is a a tremendous honor I'm deeply deeply touched by this I want to um conclude by saying that um if you're going to work in this business uh Remember that to work in RT it has to be in your DNA.

Thank you. Thank you very much. >> Thank you very much for that, Robert. Congratulations to all of our lifetime uh achievement award recipients and to all of you um for the incredible work as Robert has pointed out that you have done. Now, we still have time for the night to continue to mingle. There's still food. Um, to our winners, uh, to everyone, our journalists are in the back. They would love a quick two minutes with you, um, to talk about your award, but talk about the craft, etc. It would be amazing for them. Um, so certainly take some time and just head back there. We'll keep them busy uh, in the back. Uh, indeed. Um, we've got picture walls. Take pictures. Um, send them to us. We're going to post all the stuff on our website. Uh but before I go, um again, a reminder about uh the Google training on October 20th. We want to try and get as many people as we can get there uh possible, but we we do have

limited numbers. So, we have about a 40 or 45 uh space that we can uh that we can provide. We're about halfway there. So, um go to your newsrooms, get some of your junior journalists to come out. Uh some of the seniors as well. I think it would be uh amazing to have uh and to take back that information uh into the newsrooms as we are in this world of new you know new digital media if you will and then of course I'm really excited and looking forward to seeing all of you um on no on November 7th at the national gala. It will be a different format this year. Um it will be a carnival themed format this year. Many a prize if not a plaque but other will be won by anyone who plays. And I will leave it at that.

Congratulations and have yourself a wonderful evening. Good night.