Over the years the Inn on the Park conference centre in Toronto has been the site of many important broadcast conferences and events.
None more important than the Ontario Association of Broadcasters’ [OAB] 60th Anniversary Conference.
Over 300 broadcasters, suppliers, and regulators met in the fall to discuss the affairs and future of the industry. The general consensus was that we are in fine shape to weather the present economic setback. The old timers in attendance like Ross McCreath, Pip Wedge and Gerry Acton have survived many peaks and valleys. My personal most memorable economic valley came in 1958 - the year I innocently entered this industry. Nobody told me there was a recession! Somehow my wife Aline and I survived and over the years broadcasting has been very good to us and our family.
The highlight of the 60th Anniversary of the OAB came when two industry leaders Jim Waters and Duff Roman each received a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Reading their biographies is like reading the history of contemporary Canadian radio over the past 50 years.
Duff Roman, born in Swift Current, Saskatchewan started as a teenager at CKSW. He worked at several prairie stations until one day he was recruited by businessman and sports magnate Jack Kent Cooke to work at CKEY Toronto, which Cooke had purchased and renamed. Like his boss, Duff was also an entrepreneur, moonlighting as a pioneer record label owner/producer at his own Roman Records, and helping to launch the career of many Canadian entertainers including Grammy Award-winner David Clayton Thomas, who started with the Shays and the Bossmen, before becoming internationally famous as the lead singer for Blood, Sweat and Tears. Duff and David are still close friends.
In 1974 Duff was appointed program director of CHUM where he had a sterling career receiving many broadcast awards, including being inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2024.
Today Duff is retired from CHUM but keeps active as a broadcast consultant for Evanov Communications. His advice to young people entering the industry is:
“Dick, I tell young people that I have had the opportunity to live my life dream. They should pursue their passion. Set their goals and work towards them. The key is to stick with it and be happy in your work.”
It has certainly paid off for Duff Roman.
The other award recipient was Jim Waters.
Like the son of every radio station owner Jim cannot recall when he wasn’t in the radio business. Now retired, Jim has spent his entire life in one or another end of the business.
His first full-time job was at CHUM-AM, starting out as music librarian in 1972. But his eager to learn and his enthusiasm for the industry soon took him to Vancouver, where he worked in radio sales at CFUN. Soon, his passion spread to the family, and with his siblings, he purchased St. Lawrence Broadcasting in 1976. Soon, he was President and Program Director.
Of course, he later returned to CHUM and became its President, Executive Vice-President and eventually Chairman of the Board. All in all, his bio is an inspiration to read. It is no wonder he is so well respected in the industry. He’s done it all. And done it all very well. He, too, is a member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and he’s been honoured with the Broadcasting Executive of the Year Award at Canadian Music Week.
Over the course of his career, Jim Waters has been active in many industry associations including the OAB, CAB, and the RMB. Sadly the CAB and RMB are no longer. Hopefully they will resurface.
When I spoke with Jim recently the first thing he said was, “Dick, I am so honoured to receive this award along with Duff Roman, a guy I have worked with and admired for so many years.”
When I asked Jim his advice for aspiring broadcasters he replied, “The same opportunities are not in our business now since there are so few players. Stations don’t have live all night shows where talent could hone their skills and prepare for the major markets. But the rules of achieving are still the same, hard work and dedication will always win the day. Broadcasting is still the best business in the world, I miss it terrifically.”
I hope we see Jim Waters back in the business. He has a great deal of talent and knowledge. For the time being he is satisfied taking it easy while watching his beloved Maple Leafs strive to capture the Stanley Cup. He is a dedicated Maple Leaf fan, so much so that he has a Leafs logo tattooed somewhere on his body, a gift from his daughter.
Since the Leafs are again on track to win the Stanley Cup, does this mean another gift from his daughter?
On a personal note I would be remiss if I did not say what a great pleasure it was for Drew Marketing to do business over the years with both Jim and Duff. They always found time to hear our latest presentation. Some they bought, some they didn’t .But they were always open to hear what we were selling that day. You can’t ask for more than that. And that is another reason why it is my pleasure to write this tribute honouring them as Lifetime Achievers and Canadian Achievers. B
Now semi-retired, Dick Drew and his wife Aline live in Maple Ridge BC, near their five grandchildren. After 50 years, Dick is still involved in the industry he loves, writing this regular column for Broadcaster Magazine and operating Drew Marketing Ltd.
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