Peter Gzowski (1934 - )
Written by Gail Whiteside
Published by 50plus.com
Tuning
into the radio to hear Peter Gzowski in the mornings was a ritual for many
Canadians for years. He has been called the voice that bridged Canada
together. His CBC interviews covered the gamut of Canadian life…from
talking to Inuit about their new territory of Nunavut, to chatting with
New Brunswickers about spring floods. Peter Gzowski’s retirement from
“Morningside” in 1997 was for many, akin to losing their morning
coffee partner. Gzowski started off as a print journalist. After stints on
papers in Timmins, Moose Jaw and Chatam, he came to MacLean’s magazine.
In 1962, he became managing editor. He made his mark on CBC Radio the
seventies by hosting the lively, eclectic show “This Country in the
Morning”. After taking a long break from radio to write books, he
returned to CBC in 1992 as host of “Morningside” . Excerpts from the
show have been collected in 5 editions of “The Morningside Papers”.
The broadcaster has won virtually every award available in the Canadian
media, including the Governor General's award for the performing arts.
Gzowski is also the only Canadian to be awarded a prestigious Peabody
Award (American) for his body of work in Canada. His accomplishments
include helping others. He founded the Peter Gzowski Invitational Golf
tournaments, which have raised close to $5 million for literary projects
across Canada. He has been known to play a round of golf on the frozen ice
of Baffin Island, and in the sands of Yellowknife. Peter Gzowski is truly
deserving of being honoured as a great Canadian.
Photo courtesy
of CBC
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