Legendary Canadian broadcaster Patrick Watson has died.
by Angus Gillespie
July 4, 2022
Watson was a titan of Canadian broadcasting and was involved in numerous ground-breaking programs and remained active within the media for more than six decades.
His long list of accomplishments are far too expansive to name here, but he will certainly be best remembered for spearheading the highly successful television news magazine program called “This Hour Has Seven Days” and ran on CBC television from 1964 to 1966. The show delved into the pertinent political and social issues of the day.
Watson was a familiar face on television but was also widely acclaimed for his creativity and production skills behind the camera. Between 1989 and 1994 he served as chair of the CBC and was given honorary Doctorate of Laws degrees from Mount Allison University and the University of Toronto. Watson was named as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1981 and Companion of the Order of Canada the following year.
Additionally, Watson acted in more than 50 dramatic productions, including the 1983 movie The Terry Fox Story.
Patrick Watson was 92.
I am certain when asked about what should happen to the CBC after management kept trying to appease the politicians and ignore its audience, he famously said – Go to black!