Al McCann, Legendary CFRN Sports Director, Has Died

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Al McCann, Legendary CFRN Sports Director, Has Died

Postby jon » Thu Mar 12, 2015 11:14 am

We now have confirmation that legendary CFRN (AM/FM/TV) Sports Director and personality, Al McCann, has passed away. A report was run on the Noon News on CTV Edmonton (CFRN-TV).

Al was a member of the CTV Olympics broadcast team in 1980 and 1988. Prior to moving to Edmonton, Al was Sports Director at the Lethbridge TV station.

Purely by accident, a week ago, I found the announcement of Al's appointment as Sports Director at CFRN. It is in the May 31, 1963, edition of the Edmonton Journal.

You can see it and other Al pics at http://edmontonbroadcasters.com/ebc/members/mccann-al/ a page that is in development and will see more info as soon as I can get it there. Be sure to click the thumbnail that looks like a TV schedule. On the right of the enlarged version, you will see the original Sports Director announcement from 1963.
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Re: Al McCann, Legendary CFRN Sports Director, Has Died

Postby jon » Thu Mar 12, 2015 11:37 am

It now appears that Al was a member of the Edmonton Broadcasters Club, as I just discovered a Club-written bio of Al hidden away in a Database:
Al’s forty year broadcasting career began in 1952 as a probationary announcer at CJOC, Lethbridge. His performance and his love of sports soon elevated him to the position of Sports Director, first at CJOC, then at CJLH-TV in Lethbridge, at CFRN Radio and TV in Edmonton, and as sportscaster with the CTV Network.

Al lists, as his career highlights, attendance at such important sports events as the Olympic Games, Grey Cup and Stanley Cup games, and World Curling Championships. Many of these took him on junkets to centres in Canada, the United States and Europe.

Al retired from CFRN Radio and Television in 1993, having completed thirty years in RN’s employ. He comments that, having spent thirty-seven years as a sportscaster during his forty-year broadcasting career, it was akin to getting paid for doing something that he would happily do for nothing, (a heartfelt sentiment that we promise we won’t take literally!).
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Re: Al McCann, Legendary CFRN Sports Director, Has Died

Postby drmusic » Thu Mar 12, 2015 4:18 pm

Since I don't see it mentioned elsewhere, Al McCann was inducted into the reporters wing of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1993

http://www.cfhof.ca/hall-of-fame-member ... -mccann-2/
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Re: Al McCann, Legendary CFRN Sports Director, Has Died

Postby drmusic » Thu Mar 12, 2015 4:21 pm

1992 CFRN Al McCann sportscast here:
http://youtu.be/oGNW9UwIqWU
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Re: Al McCann, Legendary CFRN Sports Director, Has Died

Postby jon » Sat Mar 14, 2015 10:17 am

The obituary was in this morning's Edmonton Journal, with an announcement on a Celebration of Life in late April. Here is an excerpt:
Al was born and raised in Coaldale, Alberta. He worked as Sports Director of CJOC Radio and CJLH TV in Lethbridge from 1954 until moving to Edmonton in 1963. Here, he began what would be an illustrious 30 year career in sports at CFRN TV and the CTV network. Following his retirement in 1993, Al and Joan enjoyed many golf filled years in both Edmonton and Mesa, Arizona. As Al would say, "he had a great run."

Please join us to celebrate Al's life at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, April 24, 2015 at The Derrick Golf and Winter Club, 3500 – 119 Street NW, Edmonton.
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