George McLean (journalist)

George Angus McLean (May 16, 1923 – March 16, 2016) was a Canadian television journalist, best known for his work as a TV anchor for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).

George McLean
Born
George Angus McLean

(1923-05-16)May 16, 1923
Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
DiedMarch 13, 2016(2016-03-13) (aged 92)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Occupation(s)Journalist, news presenter
EmployerCanadian Broadcasting Corporation
Television

Personal

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Born in Brandon, Manitoba, his family moved to Manchester, England in 1929.[1] McLean was educated in the United Kingdom and joined the Royal Air Force during World War II.[1] He transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1944 and returned to Canada following the end of the war.[1]

McLean married his first wife, Majorie, in 1947; she died in 1982. His second marriage to Barbara Quick in 1987 lasted until his death.[2]

Broadcasting career

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Radio

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In 1946 he joined CJRL radio in Kenora, Ontario[3] and in 1952 became news editor at CKRC in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In 1953 he became chief announcer at CKOK in Penticton, British Columbia.[1]

Television

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In 1956 he joined the CBC in Vancouver as a staff announcer for CBC Television.[1] In 1965 McLean was transferred to Toronto and became a regular backup for hosting national newscasts including The National, a role which he performed until 1986 when he retired from the CBC.[1] McLean was also the regular host of Saturday Report, the Saturday evening national newscast. He was the announcer on the long-running series Front Page Challenge.

Post retirement and death

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He continued to do occasional voice-over work after his retirement and golf in his spare time, moved to Lagoon City in Ramara, Ontario and died in a Toronto hospital in March 2016.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Houston, William "Voice of Authority" The Ramara Chronicle, February 2010 p. 28
  2. ^ http://www.ramarachronicle.com/images/chronicle%20feb%20web.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  3. ^ "Canadian Communications Foundation Radio Station History CJRL-AM". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
  4. ^ "George McLean, longtime host of CBC's The National, dead at 92". CBC News. March 21, 2016.