Peter Gzowski, 1934-2002

Not long ago we said goodbye to Frank Shuster. Now a couple of weeks later, we say goodbye to another great CBC and Canadian icon: Peter Gzowski.

This is a name I recognise. Everybody recognises it. Even the younger generation, who don't usually listen to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. I did. In the morning the radio was always on when we got up to go to school, and on weekends as well. I remember Morningside. I don't remember so much the content as I remember the music used for the theme. And I remember the name Peter Gzowski.

Peter Gzowski wasn't just a reporter but also a writer. In fact in the high school literary book Literary Experiences, the first short story/essay is "The Game of Our Lives" by Peter Gzowski, where the place of hockey is wonderfully examined. Also, there is picture of my brother with Peter Gzowski. My brother graduated from Trent University where Gzowski was Chancellor.

Although I didn't really listen to Morningside, being 11 or 12 when it went off the air, Peter Gzowski was listened to by millions across the country and is a significant part of our heritage and broadcasting culture, proving that public institutions can have quality even though their budget is constantly slashed. He will be missed.

Peter Gzowski was born in Toronto, July 13, 1934. He was educated at Ridley College in Saint Catherines before joining the student body of the University of Toronto where he edited for The Varsity and worked part-time for The Telegram.

He became editor of many papers, especially in rural communities. He began his career with the Timmins Daily News before editing The Moose Jaw Times-Herald and Chatham Daily News in the fifties. In 1958, Gzowski joined MacLean's.

He turned to radio broadcasting in the 1970s, hosting This Country in the Morning from 1971 to 1974. After leaving radio for a not-so-good television career, Peter Gzowski returned to radio in 1982 as host of Morningside, which lasted until 1997. It is believed that Mr. Canada or Mr. Broadcasting as he was called by many, had about 27,000 interviews meeting many famous people, including prime ministers, award winners and ordinary people who had something to say. He said that the best interviews were "those that surprised [him]."

In 1997 he won the prestigious international Peabody award for broadcasting. He also won many ACTRA Awards and was Companion of the Order of Canada.

On January 24, 2002, Peter Gzowski died due to emphysema.

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