From the Ottawa Citizen:
Link: Ottawa comic Mike MacDonald dead at 63
The world of comedy was tweeting expressions of sorrow Saturday night at the death of Ottawa comic Mike MacDonald.
No details were immediately available.
A former Brookfield High School student, MacDonald had liver transplant surgery in March 2013. Long known as one of Canada’s top standup comics, MacDonald had battled drug addiction and bipolar disorder in his adult life. Continue reading.
From the Canadian Press:
Link: Canadian country singer and TV personality Ronnie Prophet dead at 80
Canadian country star Ronnie Prophet, who rose to fame in the 1970s through a string of singles and variety TV shows, has died.
The singer’s widow Glory-Anne Prophet says in a Facebook post that “there are no words to express the heartache” of losing her “best friend and the love of (her) life.”
A family spokesman broke the news with a Facebook post earlier in the day saying Prophet died Friday morning at age 80. Continue reading.Â
From Bethany Lindsay of CBC News:
Link: ‘Good night, Mom’: wholesome CBC TV host Juliette dead at 91
For a decade, Canadians knew her as “our pet, Juliette,” the folksy and glamorous host who sang show tunes in the coveted television slot after CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada.
Following a long career that saw her appointed to the Order of Canada and honoured with a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame, Juliette Cavazzi died in Vancouver overnight Thursday at the age of 91, friends and family have confirmed. Continue reading.
From Amy Judd of Global News:
Link: Former B.C. broadcaster Rafe Mair dies at age 85
Legendary broadcaster and political commentator Rafe Mair has died at the age of 85.
Mair is remembered as a provincial cabinet minister, opinionated public voice, and above all as a radio host who spent much of his career at CKNW.
Mair joined the station in 1984, and quickly drew a massive following. His show drew nearly unprecedented ratings in the 20 per cent range, with hundreds of thousands regularly tuning in during his 19-year run. Continue reading.
From a media release:
TSN mourns the passing of Ray Turnbull, an iconic Canadian curling analyst and competitor and fan-favourite broadcaster. A standout competitive curler and instructor as well as broadcaster, Turnbull was inducted as a member of the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 2009 as both a curler and a builder, and was also inducted into the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame in 2013 and the World Curling Hall of Fame in 2015.
“Ray set the standard for curling broadcasting in Canada, and was instrumental in developing and building our world-class curling coverage,†said Mark Milliere, Senior Vice-President and General Manager, TSN. “A true champion, Turnbull’s expertise on and off the ice, his warm nature and distinct charm and personality elevated his craft and made him a fan-favourite for Canadians nationwide. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Ray’s family and friends. His legacy upon curling in Canada will always be remembered.â€
With a career spanning over 25 years, Turnbull joined TSN in 1984. He was the long-time face of the network’s curling coverage alongside Vic Rauter, becoming one of curling’s most familiar and trusted voices providing expert analysis on a slate of major tournaments including the Tim Hortons Brier, Scotties Tournament of Hearts, World Championships, and the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games. Turnbull retired from TSN at the end of the 2009-2010 season.
Affectionately known as “Moosie,†Turnbull was a 1965 Brier champion and travelled the world teaching the game and introducing people to it. He played a crucial role in the creation of a junior-age national championship with the Canadian Curling Association (now Curling Canada), and was responsible for developing various teaching techniques. Turnbull also worked as an official, and was among the first to provide formal instruction for players and coaches in Canada and around the world.
“For 25 years, along with Linda Moore, we were broadcast partners travelling from one side of the country to the other through cities and towns, and also around the world,†said TSN’s Vic Rauter. “Curling was in his heart and in his blood. His love for the game, the athletes, and the fans was unquestioned and it showed. He will truly be missed.â€
