John Sykes
The following is submitted by John Sykes:
Moved to Canada
from England as a 14 year-old in December 1952. Completed high school
in Toronto and Montreal. Completed MBA in Winnipeg in 1959.
Was a left-handed pitcher in the St. Louis Cards farm system
in Winnipeg, Northern League in
1958-59. Broke left shoulder playing touch football, and no longer able to
throw. Turned
to radio in 1959 after moving to Rosemere, Quebec.
First job was with CKJL, St. Jerome. Owner, Jean Lalonde
was father of Pierre Lalonde, a young Quebec MOR
singer. After three months, I moved
to new rocker, CKGM in Montreal as an operator for talk shows featuring Pat
Burns and Herb Manning. Six months
later was promoted to the news department. Also covered local
sports.
Working in tandem with Tom Cherrington at CKGM in Montreal,
breaking the tragic thalidomide story in the early 60's. Reporting from the 9th floor of Sir George Williams University
in Montreal when West Indian students set fire to the computer department one
floor below. Covering another tragedy - The Air Canada
DC-8 crash near Ste. Therese, Quebec - November 29, 1963.
1967 - moved to CFOX Montreal as
Sports Director and weekend on-air personality.
1969 - moved to Vancouver
as Sports Director of CKVN Radio, an all-news outlet.
1972 - covered the World Curling
Championships in Garmisch,
West Germany for CKVN and
Broadcast News.
1972 - become Program Director as
CKVN changed to rock format, and later was purchased by CHUM Radio.
1973 - moved to CJOR, Vancouver as
Sports Director
1974 - chosen as Canada's
Radio Sports Broadcaster of the Year for dedication and coverage of amateur
sports.
1974 - Play by play of the Vancouver Whitecaps of the
NASL.....
1975 - assumed additional duties as
Director of Media Relations for the Whitecaps.
1976 - joined CJJC, Langley as
Sports Director. Also handled colour commentary for the New Westminster Bruins Major
Junior Hockey broadcasts.
1977 - went into the travel
business in Vancouver area
1986-1996 - sold agency and continued in retail
business....as well as part-time radio with CFVR in Abbotsford.
1996-1999 - worked for a local golf course.
1999-2003 - with B.C. Liquor Distribution
branch.
2003 – retired
Extensive travel covering World Curling Championships:
1972 - Garmisch,
Germany
1973 - Duluth, Minnesota.
1974 - Berne, Switzerland.
1975 - Perth, Scotland.
1976 - Karlstad,
Sweden.