Johnny Sandison (1925–2004) was a broadcaster in
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina () is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province, after Saskatoon, and is a commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. As of the 2021 census, Regina had a city population ...
whose career spanned more than 40 years.
Born in Regina, Sandison served in the wartime
Royal Canadian Navy
The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN; french: Marine royale canadienne, ''MRC'') is the naval force of Canada. The RCN is one of three environmental commands within the Canadian Armed Forces. As of 2021, the RCN operates 12 frigates, four attack subma ...
and the Regina Fire Department before beginning his broadcasting career as an announcer/operator at
CKRM
CKRM is an AM radio station in Regina, Saskatchewan, broadcasting at 620 kHz. Owned by Harvard Media, CKRM broadcasts a full service country format.
Alongside music programming, CKRM is notably the flagship station of the Saskatchewan Ro ...
Radio in 1953. In 1958 he replaced Fred Sear as the morning host on
CKCK.
Sandison's popularity as the "Morning Mayor" skyrocketed on the powerful CKCK. His audience was estimated at its peak at 300,000 listeners—astonishing for a market the size of southern Saskatchewan.
In 1965 Sandison increased his visibility by becoming the evening weatherman on
CKCK-TV
CKCK-DT (channel 2) is a television station in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, part of the CTV Television Network. Owned and operated by network parent Bell Media, the station maintains studios and transmitter facilities on Eastgate Drive and Highw ...
. In the late 1970s, after recovering from heart surgery, Sandison left radio and became a full-time staffer of the television station, adding a daily talk show to his weather duties. At CKTV he formed a third of the highly popular ''Newservice'' 6pm team with news anchor James Allyn and sportscaster
Dale Isaac
Dale or dales may refer to:
Locations
* Dale (landform), an open valley
* Dale (place name element)
Geography
;Australia
*The Dales (Christmas Island), in the Indian Ocean
;Canada
*Dale, Ontario
;Ethiopia
*Dale (woreda), district
;Norway
*Dal ...
.
Sandison volunteered with several organizations, and was a much-sought-after master of ceremonies.
In 1996 Sandison retired, and was given a boisterous televised send-off. He initially remained active, and continued to appear as a guest on TV and radio until his death. He was made a member of the
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit.
To coincide with the c ...
in 1977.
Sandison Crescent in Regina's Walsh Acres subdivision is named after Johnny and his father John, a former deputy fire chief.
Sources
* Sandison, Johnny. "Hi! I'm Johnny Sandison" Regina: Brigdens Publications, 1982.
References
External links
Obituary: Johnny Sandison- 1999 interview
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sandison, Johnny
1925 births
2004 deaths
Canadian television weather presenters
People from Regina, Saskatchewan