Peter Gzowski (1934-2002)
1995 Lifetime Artistic Achievement (Screens and Voices (formerly Broadcasting and Film))
Writer and broadcaster Peter Gzowski, with his daily broadcast of personal essays, interviews, debate, music and drama, is the contemporary embodiment of what Canada's pioneer radio-makers dreamed of when they launched national broadcasting.
First with the 1970s' free-wheeling This Country in the Morning, and today with CBC Radio's Morningside, he attracts over a million listeners to his three-hour programme. He is their linchpin and connection to all aspects of Canadian life. His deft and incisive interviewing, masked by an intimate and relaxed style, "shows Canadians to themselves," revealing not only the great issues of the day but the small pockets and corners of Canadiana which make up the fabric of the country. His assumption of the intelligence of his listeners is echoed in the hundreds of individual responses he receives. His talent can't be bottled and sold, but his example has been the inspiration for a whole generation of broadcasters. He also works tirelessly for literacy in Canada, and has raised millions of dollars for the cause through his ongoing series of golf tournaments.
Peter Gzowski has received wide recognition: seven ACTRA awards, the 1989 John Drainie Award for significant contribution to broadcasting, and seven honorary degrees. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada.