Dan Zeidler passed away suddenly Tuesday. He was only 56.
Zeidler began working at CBC as a teenager in 1968 doing summer relief, becoming staff in National Television News in 1971.
He left Toronto in the mid-1970s to work in Thunder Bay, moved to Edmonton as Senior Editor, and then to Vancouver. He took a leave from the CBC in 1989 to join The Newspaper Guild’s International staff and later moved to CWA/SCA Canada and was based in Winnipeg, where he worked until his death.
He was active in unions and was among the group of 12 CMG members who were locked out in 1972 for supporting a NABET strike. This group became known within Union circles as “the Dirty Dozen.”
Zeidler leaves his wife, Hortense, and his sister. The funeral will take place on Saturday November 3 at 2 pm at the Thomson “in the park” Funeral Home, 1291 McGillivray Blvd, Winnipeg. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the Winnipeg Humane Society or to a charity of your choice.
You’re welcome to share your messages of condolence and your memories of Dan here in the comments, or email drichmond@cwa-scacanada.ca and the messages will be posted on the CWA/SCA Canada website.
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Sorry to hear this news. Dan was a great guy and I was lucky enough to know him personally and professionally.
I worked with Dan in the Edmonton newsroom. He was open and friendy…smart and hardworking with a killer smile and a funny, funny sense of the ridiculous.
Given the sad circumstances I can now tell a TRUE Zeidler story.
In Edmonton we had an “open newsroom” type set. Anchor in the foreground …. hardworking reporter types b.g. Got it ?
One day RENE LEVESQUE came calling, so we decided to do a LIVE debrief on the set. About 4pm Zeidler slipped away to a costume store and bought a PIERRE TRUDEAU rubber mask. While the anchor and Rene did their thing…Zeidler/Trudeau sat in clear view just over Rene’s shoulder typing away like a madman.
To add further hilarity to the moment…the studio director Jerry Olsen jumped on the talk back…”who’s that guy back there…he looks familiar”.
I’ll miss you Danny…you were a good journalist and a better man.
I knew Dan from my days promoting CBC Radio in Vancouver. Yes - to Hortense. My deepest sympathy. How I remember the many smoky early evenings
and often later nights at the Media Club when it was
packed with refugees from news and music and fledgling
web warriors. Oh the laughs and razor sharp commentary
from you, Dan. And your sweet soft affinity for
banishing melancholy with good conversation. Thank you
so much for all of that.
I first met Danny (Zdenek) Zeidler in 1969. He was still in high school in Chatham, Ontario, where he was already more mature than his classmates, and at least a foot taller than them in his shoulder-length hair. His family were warm, generous, hardworking Czech-Canadians. His Mom made the best Christmas “Egg-Cognac” this side of the Moldau river. News today of his passing comes as a shock, especially at such a young age. My sympathies to his surviving family members.
We’ll miss you, Dany.