On my way into the studios Wednesday morning for my tech column, I ran into Shelagh Rogers. (We usually hang out at SLC’s 7am break, before I go on air.) The first thing she said to me was “We’re playing a clip from Peter’s last show.”
It melted me. Seriously.
Besides Shelagh, Peter Gzowski was (is) my radio hero. He could tell the stories of everyday Canadian living that seem heroic and, at the same time, inconsequential. That’s Canada, in my eyes. Humble AND critical.
That’s why I was thrilled tonight when Mark Mietkiewicz, Editorial Manager of CBC Digital Programming, pointed me to a full hour of Peter’s last show, broadcast live from the Temple Garden Spa in Moose Jaw, Sask.
If you have 53 minutes to spare, it’s worth listening to Peter’s last show.
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Mark’s now editorial manager of Digital Programming? Nobody bothered to tell the staff…
I thought the idea of playing Peters last program was morbid. He was something of a lifelong project of CBC… going from radio to television- and back to radio- as he did. He also grew into the CBC’s new building… and if anyone remembers going into the old building, they would be surprised that anyone survived the compression and charged bunker atmosphere of that old tomb. Like Rene Levesque, Peter always had a cigarette going somewhere… and his prematue death devastated those who faithfully watched Morningside’s slide into Sounds Like Canada. Anyone who has followed Peters love affair with the Woodbine Racetrack would know that Peter Gzowski was every bit as much a natural historian as Pierre Burton and Petec C. Newman. I thought a more fitting effort would be in digging out his first radio broadcast.
Shelagh’s quest for the Seven Wonders of Canada is a noble project that should- if only for a moment- bring us back to ourselves. CBC should also look for the ‘Seven Blunders of Canada’. After the execution of Louis Reil, the Residential School System, the Discrimination against Women and Visible Minorities, the Isolation of Quebec, and other Canuckian catastrophes… the present methodology of degrading the CBC as a tax-binged trough for the swill of socialism should earn a place as one of the Seven Blunders of Canada. We can learn a lot more about ourselves by examining our mistakes and misadventures than sparkling the regions into competing for mythic Canadian status. Perhaps a Canadian Idle Show about our unemployed and dys-employed? I was glad to hear Peter’s voice, but I think our desperate need to have a single voice define the CBC is a dis-service to the thousands of CBC employees who daily dig up, bring out, and tie down this country. Peter loved and respected all of these people. Ten years has not dulled our love and respect for this man. We are all able to see ourselves clearer now… standing on Peter Gzowski’s shoulder.
How do lowly non-CBC employees (mere citizens) “tie down” this country? Oh ya - we pay for it - 1$ Billion a year. — “the thousands of CBC employees who daily dig up, bring out, and tie down this country.” John - you da man!
This attitude terrifies me. Hugo Chavez, on the other hand is fully supportive of this attitude.
Its a sign of ignorance to criticize something you don’t understand Mikey… I don’t think you have ever heard of Peter Gzowski… let alone tuned into his Morningside passionate Canadian patriotism. You also know nothing of Hugo Chavez… other than his CNN name. You have rented out your brain to the goons of Globalization for nothing and your voice to the washroom stalls of fascism for the appearance of an intellect. At least I have an attitude that’s mine Mikey… frightening, isn’t it? You have nothing positive to say and all the time in the world to drone on about the pain in your pocket and your longing for a country to call your own. Thanks for sharpening my sword.