Our thanks to Connie Thiessen at Broadcast Dialogue for drawing our attention to this development. Vancouver-born Craig Oliver, a CTV stalwart for more than 40 years, who turned 81 last month, is retiring from his day-to-day duties. The announcement was made on the CTV News Network on Friday. But he intends to continue to appear occasionally, albeit in a greatly reduced role.
“In this town, and we all know, it’s one thing to be loved, it’s one thing to be respected, it’s rare to be both. You’re both loved and respected,” said Evan Solomon, host of the network’s Sunday public affairs show, Question Period.
Oliver, who began as a reporter in 1957, was previously CTV’s Ottawa bureau chief. Prior to coming to Ottawa, he covered the Reagan years as CTV’s Washington correspondent for almost a decade. He was a personal friend to the late Pierre Trudeau at the same time that he reported on Trudeau’s Liberal government.
Oliver is legally blind, a condition related to glaucoma he developed late in life. He has won two Gemini Awards and the President’s Award from the Radio and Television News Directors’ Association. He has also won the Gold Ribbon Award from the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, the Charles Lynch Award from the National Press Gallery. The University of Regina honoured Oliver in June 2009, with an Honorary Doctorate of Laws degree. On June 14, 2013 he received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters (honoris causa) from Nipissing University in North Bay, Ontario.
On May 24, 2012, Oliver was named an Officer of the Order Of Canada. At the awards ceremony held on November 23, 2012, the Governor General of Canada David Johnston also presented Oliver with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
About time,knows his stuff but passed his due date.
Sean,
Better you said nothing.
How mean spirited you are Sean. Craig Oliver deserves much more than you accredit him for. Shame on you
What I have liked about PSR is that opinions are valued from all, and my opinion is shame on nobody. Sure Craig Oliver has been long in the business, but there is a difference between making a contribution of 1 x 60 years as opposed to 60 x 1 year. With Mr. Oliver, I found his “insights” of late to not benefit the viewership at large (in my opinion) and his seat at the table could have been occupied by someone more in touch. You know the kind who is exactly the opposite of a Huffpo millenial.
So, yes. Credit to Mr. Oliver for his contribution and longevity, and respect for his contribution given, but from the point of view of someone who is on receiving end of poltical sharp sticks, time to go.
I must confess I have not really seen or heard much from Oliver, I am aware who he is but don’t know much about him .
The few comments here now have me intrigued, I hope we hear more from others, it sounds like Oliver had some who liked him and some that don’t . Could that fall along political lines ?
Sounds like there could be a good story here .
Let the man retire without the indignity of snide comments which say more about the writer then Mr. Oliver. Would you say the same thing about your father or grandfather?
Ive watched Mr Oliver but cant comment on his body of work because he was not part of my routine.
Those that have followed his career are entitled to an opinion. Good or bad.
I wish him and anyone ending a long career all the best