Description Level

Series

Creator

Aimee Benoit

Physical Description

11 digital audio recordings, 10 transcripts, 11 signed agreements

History Biographical

The interviews were created in connection with Galt Museum exhibit "Don’t Touch That Dial!" The exhibit was on display October 16, 2021 to February 13, 2022. This exhibition casts a glance back to 1955, when the first television station opened in Lethbridge, and traces the evolution of local broadcasting since that time. Rediscover favourite programs and personalities, learn about broadcast technologies behind the scenes, and consider how community programming has changed over time.

Scope and Content

Interview with Bob Johnson 49 mins 17 seconds Born in Claresholm/Stavely area and came to Lethbridge in 1960. Got a job at the local television station in 1960. Recieved a degree in Management and Accounting from Lethbridge Community College. Worked in broadcasting for 38 years. First job with the CJLH station was in TeleCine, working with projectors. CJLH opened in November 1955, and Johnson started working in September 1960. The station was an office complex, and it was one of only a few local stations specifically built as a TV station. Johnson worked in TeleCine, Control Room, Audio, Video Switcher, and Management; last position before retirement was President and General Manager. Retired in the late 1990s. A memorable newscast: The 1967 snow storm, station crew were snowed in for three days, Johnson did the weather buried in the snow outside the station. The TV station was very involved in the community. Changes in broadcasting over time; becoming independent in the 1970s, staff increased in the late 1990s, etc. Highlights the TV station's commitment to local programming. Interview with Cheryl Oates 38 mins 39 seconds Born and raised in Lethbridge, went to school at S.A.I.T. for Broadcast News program, and first job was working for Global Lethbridge, TV station. Father worked in television, and influenced Cheryl Oates' career in television. Growing up with her father in media industry made Oates comfortable in front of the camera. During the Broadcast News program, Oates did her practicum work at Global Lethbridge, which is where she got hired right out of school. Discussed the various roles in broadcasting and how her career in broadcasting evolved; including the difference between broadcasting and reporting. In 2009-2010, Global Lethbridge moved to sharing a production centre with Calgary; led to loss of jobs at the Lethbridge station, and production, directing, etc. came from Calgary. High value on local community engagement and content. Discussion of shifts in news consumption; from print media to television and now online news outlets. Lethbridge television stations as training stations for staff; learn and experience in a small market and move to larger news centers. Discussion on personal career, moving from broadcasting to politics. Memorable moments: covering emotional stories and speaking with community members, telling the stories of the community; covering the flooding in Calgary and Medicine Hat in 2013. Mark Campbell as Oates' mentor at the Global TV station. Changes and the future of news; more audience interaction, changes in technology. Left Global in 2014. Interview with Chris Oates 49 mins 10 seconds Grew up in the Vancouver area and moved to Lethbridge. Moved around for work, including as a producer/director in Kamloops. Went to university in Edmonton for electrical engineering and computer science. Eventually settled in Lethbridge to raise a family. Worked in the audio/visual department as a supervisor and equipment trainer. Worked at Habitat for Humanity conference in Vancouver, including in Master Control. Discussed the role of producer/director. Discussion of the beginnings of the TV station. Chris Oates started at CFAC in 1980, working as a News Editor/Director; moved into producing and directing. Discussion of the mobile truck to drive to locations for stories, including covering the 1988 Olympics in the van with a split feed with in-studio announcers. Chris Oates' first documentary programs: "Drugs: Laying it on the Line" and "Sounds of Sculpture", both programs won gold at the CANPRO Awards event. The 1990s brought layoffs of staff at the station, also brought loss of local programming. Behind the scenes of the weather and other news segments; for example, broadcasted in Lethbridge, but filmed in Calgary. Discussion of various staff members over the years; including Bob Johnson, John Scott Black, Gord Smeby, Doug Fraser, Dan Germain, etc. Worked at CTV Edmonton, and moved back to Lethbridge; created own production company in Lethbridge. Lethbridge was a transitional market for people media. Memorable moments: pre-Olympic events for the Calgary 1988 Olympics and covered the freestyle skiing, and Calgary Flames hockey games; staff social events created a sense of community at the station. Discussed the donation of Global News videos to the Galt Museum and digitized in the Galt Archives; various videos and programs, including "Scene & Heard". Interview with Dory Rossiter 42 mins 52 seconds Father was in the military for 35 years, and family moved around a lot. Dory Rossiter was born in Winnipeg. Family settled in Calgary, Rossiter finished high school and took courses at the University of Calgary in the arts. Internship at Theatre Calgary, and then moved, and settled, in Lethbridge. Started working with the Playgoers of Lethbridge, and Joan Waterfield recommended Rossiter to CTV Lethbridge. In 1989, Rossiter was freelancing with Terry Vogt for CTV; in 1990, the station expanded to a full 30 minute program. Dory Rossiter auditioned for the weather anchor, and started working full time on April 5, 1990. Took courses in meteorology and spent six years working with Environment Canada staff; learning the science behind the weather. Discussion of background in theatre and performing arts and how it helped working in television. Started working at the CTV station as the weather anchor. Moved to working writing and producing the community engagement segments; the Community Calendar segements. First community event covered was for the Helen Schuler Nature Centre. The Dory's Story segment is special for Rossiter, it allowed for close community engagement and highlighting people in the community. Changes in job requirements and obligations. Memorable moments: surprising and celebrating the retirement of a City transit bus driver at his retirement party; bungee jumping and sky diving for news stories. Discussion on her rock band, Horizons, and connecting to the community through music. Mentors include Elisha Rasmussen and Terry Vogt. Explanation of the history of CTV in Calgary and Lethbridge. Rossiter worked an MC for community events for over 25 years, volunteers, sat on boards, and committees. A strong sense of community and love of her work and Lethbridge. Interview with Elisha Rasmussen 1 hour 4 mins 39 seconds Born in Coaldale and raised in Lethbridge, started modelling at a young age and moved into television, working at CJLH-TV. Worked on a modelling/weekly fashion show on CJLH for six or seven years, and then had a family. Was asked to come back and work on a television show, called "Lifestyle", as a co-co-host; eventually, became the host of the show for 25 years. Gained more roles on the TV show with more experience, more trust with guests. Discussed the crew and staff as being a family. Discussed the show, "Lifestyle", and how it moved to "Mornings with Elisha" and then "Elisha", once Rasmussen became host. Her show, "In Profile" won Gold at the CANPRO Awards. Worked at Global and CTV in Lethbridge. Discussion of various stories and interviews over the years, including interviewing James Brolin about horses, and the Shackleford family on their experience in the movie industry in Lethbridge. Promoted local events on show. Memorable moments: staff Christmas parties with staff performances, including "Duck Pond", an interpretation of "Swan Lake". Worked with the staff at the station, they became a family. Interview with George Gallant 46 mins 39 seconds Father was in the Air Force, and moved around a lot as a child. Family settled in Calgary, where Gallant finished high school and became interested in television production. Went to school for Television, Stage, and Radio Arts at S.A.I.T. and first job in media was in radio as a sportscaster in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. In TV, started out as a newscaster, and moved into production. Explanation of role of production and producers in radio and television. Started working on documentaries for television station in Swift Current, one documentary received a CANPRO Award, that was presented in Lethbridge. Applied for a TV station job in Lethbridge in mid-1980s, working in various roles. Late 1990s (around 1997), was when programming went to independent producers and they licensed it back, meaning less locally made programs. Worked as a director, switcher, and editor at 2 & 7 Lethbridge News, working the evening and late night news shifts. Moved into camera work and shooting programs and commercials. Eventually, became producer in charge of all programming. Downsizing of the staff began in the 1990s. Memorable moments: working on Rene Newhouse's "11 AM" daily show, travelling with the crew for the "Tourist Town" show. Mentor: Gord Smeby, guide through news television. Emphasized the importance of connection to the community through local programming. Discussion of teaching broadcasting at the Lethbridge College; started teaching in late 1990s, and the changes in the media industry. Interview with Jim McNally 53 mins 4 seconds Grew up in Ottawa, and was part of a TV club in school. Went to Algonquin College, and after graduation moved to Lethbridge to work for CFAC. Started in the photography department, worked for Wayne Dwornik. Settled in Lethbridge, and raised a family; built career at the TV station, retiring as Station Manager in 1999. After retirement from the station, work in independent productions, company called "The Commerical Factory" making commercials for local companies. Discussion of management duties as Station Manager; downsizing station, TV shows like the Spelling Bee. Changes in technology and news productions; cassette tapes, Beta Cam, digital, etc. Discussion of changes in how people access media and information. Spoke on truth in media and news reporting. Memorable moments: the staff were family and the friendships that were made with crew members. Interview with Lyn Ens 38 mins 50 seconds Born and raised in Lethbridge, and graduated from the Lethbridge College Radio Arts program. First entered into broadcast news in radio. Moved to print news and working for the Lethbridge Herald newspaper, for seven years. Returned to radio, and eventually worked for Rogers, which had bought CJOC. Worked for Shaw around 1998 until 2008, which focused on community programs. As part of the community programming, Ens went with the Snowbirds as part of a promotion for their airshow, and worked on political candidate forums during elections to inform the public. Highlighted the emphasis on promoting or covering community programs and community events. Worked with Sheila Nyquist on a TV show, travelled all over southern Alberta together for stories. Worked with volunteers on projects and students at Lethbridge Community College. Spoke about the decline in television news consumption and changes in news reporting outlets. Discussed the downsizing and staff layoffs/budget cuts at Shaw at the time of his retirement from Shaw. Interview with Mark Campbell 49 mins 20 seconds Born in Lethbridge, went to Lethbridge College for the Radio Arts program, and graduated in 1973. Started working at the 1090 CHEC radio station, worked way up to become the morning show host at the radio station. Change radio stations, and around 1992, worked at CISA TV station as a part-time weather presenter. Became a full-time weather presenter and then moved to the Scene & Heard segment on Global TV; worked at Global TV for 20 years. Bill Matheson was a big influence on Campbell's media career, especialy the weather segment. As a child, was on the local TV show, "Kids Bids". Wrote to the NHL's California Golden Seals to apply for the play-by-play radio announcer; received a letter back that Campbell kept. Discussed how theatre background helped with weather presenting, and the difference in reporting the news. Discussed how Scene & Heard developed from an a weekly arts segment to daily reporting from the community. Memorable moments: interviewed Lady Gaga when she came to Lethbridge for a concert, a Scene & Heard show from Las Vegas and interviewed local businessman, Gary Kirk and Wayne Newton about their lifelong friendship, interviewed Dan Niehaus, the Lethbridge-born head gymnastic trainer for Cirque du Soleil. Discussed the changes at Global TV and the centralization of news out of Calgary, and how that led to staff layoffs and smaller TV crews in places like Lethbridge. Campbell left news and media around 2014-2015, and entered local politics as a City Councillor. Discussion of the show "Kids Bids", and Lethbridge as a starting point for people working in TV and media. Interview with Teri Petz 30 mins 18 seconds Moved to Lethbridge in 2014, volunteered for Shaw TV, worked the studio camera. In 2003-2004, began creating home videos of her poetry work, took courses in videography. Worked at a TV station in Courtenay, B.C. worked with the studio cameras; worked with professionals, but most of the camera staff were volunteers. Filming consisted of talk shows, primarily. Worked on covering the Whoop-Up Days Parade, a Taber telethon for a fundraiser, and other local community events. Combined work with poetry, created an open mic poetry event that was covered by Shaw TV, and broadcasted nationally. Discussion of streaming networks versus cable TV and the changes in programs as a result. Highlighted Shaw TV's community work and emphasis on community programming. Interview with Terry Vogt 1 hour 4 mins 39 seconds Born in Lethbridge, grew up in Picture Butte. As a child, watched local TV shows like "J.P. Patches", "Kids Bids", "Hockey Night in Canada", etc. Played table hockey as a child, Vogt would do the play-by-play of the game, which introduced him to broadcasting. After experiencing an injury playing high school football, team coaches got Vogt to be the camera operator, and play-by-play announcer, for the football team. Led to graduating from the Radio Arts program at the Lethbridge College; learning from instructors like Georgia Green Fooks and others. Worked as host of the College on Campus radio program on CJOC and CHEC radio. Robert (Bob) Lang, CJOC manager, offered Vogt a job working at the CJOC radio station; started in March 1972. Moved to work in the Crowsnest Pass for CJPR radio station, doing the morning show, and various other broadcasting segments on the station. Worked in the news section of CHEC radio in Lethbridge, beginning Vogt's news reporting career as an afternoon news announcer. Discussion of various staff members Vogt has worked with in TV and radio. Worked in Calgary news as a beat reporter, which allowed more freedom for story coverage. Moved back to southern Alberta to raise a family; got a job as News Director at CHEC radio in Lethbridge. Switched to work in television as a Reporter and Assignment Director at CFCN, and was promoted to News Director for the station around 1984. Phil Johnson was a mentor. Discussed the range in news and media coverage that Vogt has been able to cover in his 50+ year career; including flying in a helicopter over Frank Slide, the BSE crisis, a federal-provincial conference in Banff, etc. Discussed the changes in news coverage and how news reporting has changed over the years, including the importance of local news coverage. Relationship between the two TV stations in Lethbridge. Memorable moments: covered the Royals, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York and Prince Andrew's visit to southern Alberta, and riding on a bus with the British Press. Spoke on how people need to be cautious about where they get their news and quality of sources and information. Reflected back on career and spoke on retirement, highlighted the team aspect of television.

Accession No.

20211092002

Collection

Archive

Less detail