David Grierson
Encyclopedia
David Grierson was a Vancouver Island
radio host for CBC Radio
.
He was born in Toronto
in 1955 and graduated from the broadcasting program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology
.
In his literary life, Grierson wrote The Expo Celebration, the best-selling retrospective book featuring the work of more than 50 of Canada's top photographers. A passion for jazz music saw him create and write a weekly column called The Jazz Life for the Georgia Straight, and his features have appeared in publications including Down Beat
, Swing Journal, Canadian Musician
and Western Living.
Grierson was a weekly columnist and co-host of Sunday Arts/Entertainment, as well as a contributor to Good Rockin' Tonight and The Journal on CBC
television. His series The Performers ran on CTV
and Turner Network Television
.
In the late 1980s, Grierson hosted 'The Arts Report' CBC Radio Two's national morning arts newscast. Freelance producer James Careless worked with Grierson in the gabled attic of CBC Radio's Jarvis Street headquarters in Toronto, which had been a girl's school in a former life. "David was truly larger-than-life, and one of the few people you could look forward to working with at 4:30 a.m.," Careless recalls. "He had a Puckish sense of humour that motivated him to take a production assistant's desktop collection of toy dinosaurs, and transform them into tableaux of CBC Radio personalities; complete with handmade props (including Vicki Gabareau's trademark red eyeglass frames) and written captions. If you had a birthday coming up, David would secretly organize a big post-show breakfast, complete with gag gifts that he had purchased. At the dry old CBC, such levity and thoughtfulness was generally unheard of. If there was anyone who committed senseless acts of random kindness ona regular basis, it was David."
Grierson created and was the host and producer of North by Northwest, CBC Radio One's weekend morning show about creative people and what they create. In December 2000, he left NXNW to take up the reins of On The Island, making the successful transition from hosting performance to current affairs programming. David also contributed his talents to Westcoast Performance, Richardson's Roundup
, The Arts Report, Stereo Morning, Morningside
, Gabereau, Sunday Morning
, Prime Time
, Arts National, Sunday Matinee, Vanishing Point, DiscDrive
, and he was the voice of the National Research Council Time Signal
.
A frequent juror for competitions in all fields of creative endeavour, Grierson was a charter member of the Writers Guild of Canada
, one of the founding members of the BC Chapter of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, and sat on the board of directors of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival
.
He died of an apparent heart attack
on November 20, 2004. He was survived by his two sons Patrick and Graeme, their mother Sheri, and his partner Kathryn Mulders.
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
radio host for CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
.
He was born in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in 1955 and graduated from the broadcasting program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology
British Columbia Institute of Technology
The British Columbia Institute of Technology , is a public, coeducational, academic institution of higher education in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. The polytechnic has five campuses located in the Metro Vancouver region, with the main campus in Burnaby...
.
In his literary life, Grierson wrote The Expo Celebration, the best-selling retrospective book featuring the work of more than 50 of Canada's top photographers. A passion for jazz music saw him create and write a weekly column called The Jazz Life for the Georgia Straight, and his features have appeared in publications including Down Beat
Down Beat
Down Beat is an American magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond" to indicate its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chicago, Illinois...
, Swing Journal, Canadian Musician
Canadian Musician
Canadian Musician is a Canadian magazine that is published bi-monthly by Norris-Whitney Communications Inc. Published since 1979, the magazine's primary area of interest is to profile Canadian musicians and musical events. The magazine also writes articles on the Canadian music business and...
and Western Living.
Grierson was a weekly columnist and co-host of Sunday Arts/Entertainment, as well as a contributor to Good Rockin' Tonight and The Journal on CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
television. His series The Performers ran on CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
and Turner Network Television
Turner Network Television
Turner Network Television is an American cable television channel created by media mogul Ted Turner and currently owned by the Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner...
.
In the late 1980s, Grierson hosted 'The Arts Report' CBC Radio Two's national morning arts newscast. Freelance producer James Careless worked with Grierson in the gabled attic of CBC Radio's Jarvis Street headquarters in Toronto, which had been a girl's school in a former life. "David was truly larger-than-life, and one of the few people you could look forward to working with at 4:30 a.m.," Careless recalls. "He had a Puckish sense of humour that motivated him to take a production assistant's desktop collection of toy dinosaurs, and transform them into tableaux of CBC Radio personalities; complete with handmade props (including Vicki Gabareau's trademark red eyeglass frames) and written captions. If you had a birthday coming up, David would secretly organize a big post-show breakfast, complete with gag gifts that he had purchased. At the dry old CBC, such levity and thoughtfulness was generally unheard of. If there was anyone who committed senseless acts of random kindness ona regular basis, it was David."
Grierson created and was the host and producer of North by Northwest, CBC Radio One's weekend morning show about creative people and what they create. In December 2000, he left NXNW to take up the reins of On The Island, making the successful transition from hosting performance to current affairs programming. David also contributed his talents to Westcoast Performance, Richardson's Roundup
The Roundup
The Roundup was a weekday afternoon program on the Radio One network of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, hosted by Tetsuro Shigematsu and Bill Richardson at different times. It was heard Monday to Friday from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. . The show mixed music with calls and letters from listeners,...
, The Arts Report, Stereo Morning, Morningside
Morningside (radio program)
Morningside was a nationally broadcast Canadian radio program, which aired on CBC Radio from September 20, 1976 to May 30, 1997. It was broadcast from 9AM to 12 Noon, Monday to Friday...
, Gabereau, Sunday Morning
Sunday Morning (radio program)
Sunday Morning was a Canadian radio news and information program, which aired on CBC Radio One. The magazine style program was one of the highest budget shows on CBC Radio and featured documentaries, interviews, round table discussions, book reviews, arts reports, puzzles and various features...
, Prime Time
Prime Time
Prime Time is an Irish news analysis, current affairs and politics programme. It is broadcast on RTÉ One on Tuesday and Thursday nights between 21:30 and 22:10. It is currently presented by Miriam O'Callaghan, who has presented the programme since its commencement in 1996...
, Arts National, Sunday Matinee, Vanishing Point, DiscDrive
DiscDrive
DiscDrive was an afternoon show on CBC Radio 2 hosted by Jurgen Gothe. It played a mix of classical, traditional bluegrass, jazz, and commentary...
, and he was the voice of the National Research Council Time Signal
National Research Council Time Signal
The National Research Council Time Signal is Canada's longest running but shortest radio programme. Heard every day since November 5, 1939 , shortly before 13:00 Eastern Time across the CBC Radio One network, it lasts between 15 and 45 seconds, ending exactly at 13:00...
.
A frequent juror for competitions in all fields of creative endeavour, Grierson was a charter member of the Writers Guild of Canada
Writers Guild of Canada
The Writers Guild of Canada represents more than 1,800 professional writers working in film, television, radio, and multimedia production in Canada...
, one of the founding members of the BC Chapter of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, and sat on the board of directors of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival
Vancouver Folk Music Festival
The Vancouver Folk Music Festival is an outdoor multistage music festival. It takes place annually, on the third weekend of July. Founded in 1978, this annual festival uses eight outdoor stages, located at Jericho Beach Park on the west side of Vancouver, British Columbia.In the past it has...
.
He died of an apparent heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
on November 20, 2004. He was survived by his two sons Patrick and Graeme, their mother Sheri, and his partner Kathryn Mulders.