Harry Joseph Boyle (October 7, 1915 – January 22, 2005) was a

Canadian Canadians () are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being ''C ...

broadcaster and writer. He began his career in media working for a local radio station during the 1930s and later as district editor for the '' Stratford Beacon Herald''. During this time he was also contributing articles to the '' London Free Press'', ''

Globe and Mail ''The Globe and Mail'' is a Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of more than 6 million in 2024, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on weekdays and Saturdays, although it fall ...

'' and the '' Toronto Telegram''. In 1942, he began working for the

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (), branded as CBC/Radio-Canada, is the Canadian Public broadcasting, public broadcaster for both radio and television. It is a Crown corporation that serves as the national public broadcaster, with its E ...

as its farm commentator as well as the director of the '' National Farm Radio Forum''. In 1947, he launched '' CBC Wednesday Night'', a three-hour commercial-free block of music, opera, plays, and other high-brow entertainment. In 1968, Boyle was appointed vice-chairman of the

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC; ) is a public organization in Canada tasked with the mandate as a regulatory agency tribunal for various electronic communications, covering broadcasting and telecommunic ...

(CRTC), and in August 1975 became its chairman. He held this position until 1977. After leaving the CRTC, he became a member of faculty at the Banff School of Fine Arts and a member of the

Ontario Arts Council The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) is a publicly funded Canadian organization in the province of Ontario whose purpose is to foster the creation and production of art for the benefit of all Ontarians. Based in Toronto, OAC was founded in 1963 by O ...

(1979–1982). Boyle's writing was primarily autobiographical fiction dealing with life in rural southern Ontario during the interwar period. Two of his books were awarded the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour: ''Homebrew and Patches'' in 1964 and ''Luck of the Irish'' in 1976. In 1978, he was made an Officer of the

Order of Canada The Order of Canada () is a Canadian state order, national order and the second-highest Award, honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the Canadian Centennial, ce ...

. The same year he received an honorary doctorate from

Concordia University Concordia University () is a Public university, public English-language research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1974 following the merger of Loyola College (Montreal), Loyola College and Sir George Williams Universit ...

Selected publications

*''The Inheritance: A Play in Three Acts'' (1949) *''Mostly in Clover'' (1961) *''Homebrew and Patches'' (1963) *''A Summer Burning'' (1964) *''With a Pinch of Sin'' (1966) *''Straws in the Wind'' (1969) *''The Great Canadian Novel'' (1972) *''Memories of a Catholic Boyhood'' (1973) *''The Luck of the Irish'' (1975)

References

External links

Tribute by Pierre Juneau
*
Canadian Communications Foundation: Harry J. Boyle biographyConcordia University Honorary Degree Citation
June 1978, Concordia University Records Management and Archives {{DEFAULTSORT:Boyle, Harry J. 1915 births 2005 deaths Canadian radio personalities Chairpersons of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Officers of the Order of Canada Stephen Leacock Award winners