ATV o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2005-01-03 published
MacDONALD,
Finlay
Michael
59, died Thursday morning, December 30, while playing tennis
in Halifax.
Born in Sydney, August 2, 1945, he was the
son of the late Senator
Finlay MacDONALD and Ann
(MacKENZIE)
MacDONALD. He was educated
at St. Francis and Saint Mary's University High School, St. Francis
Xavier University and Dalhousie Law School. Finlay spent his
professional life in broadcasting and politics.
Finlay began his broadcasting career at
CJCH
Radio in Halifax
and then, while still in law school he moved on to television,
creating the current affairs program ID which was the predecessor
to ATV's top-rated Live at 5. After anchoring and reporting at
CJOH-TV in Ottawa, Finlay became CTV's first national correspondent
for Atlantic Canada. Finlay rose to the pinnacle of his profession
when he was posted as a national reporter for CTV News on Parliament
Hill. His marquee accomplishments included being the first Canadian
journalist to ever interview Cuban President Fidel Castro in
Finlay was an entrepreneur and an innovator. He built a pioneering
television network, The Star Channel, which revolutionized the
pay television industry in Canada. In recognition of his accomplishments,
he was appointed to a Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications
Commission National Royal Commission. He later used his expertise
to become one of the nation's leading regulatory and licensing
consultants in the broadcasting industry.
Never one to seek the spotlight, Finlay offered counsel to countless
successful business, political and professional leaders. A life-long
lover of politics and a committed Progressive Conservative, Finlay
was among the first to recognize the potential of Nova Scotia
Premier John Hamm, and served as a trusted advisor from the premier's
earliest days in politics.
Fin was a consummate gentleman whose compassion and style were
legendary, as were his infectious laugh and his ability to live
every moment to the fullest. Finlay loved tennis. He loved winters
in Long Boat Key, Florida and summers in Chester. His idea of
a perfect day was two sets of tennis in the morning, "tubing"
with his nieces and nephew, two more sets of tennis in the afternoon
and then some quiet time on the wharf with Maggie and the family
dogs, Jack and Eddy.
He is survived by his beloved Maggie; sister Mary (Kevin)
RYAN,
Halifax; brother Ian (Sandra), all of Halifax. He is also survived
by his nieces and nephew, Emmett and Katherine
RYAN, and Sonja
and Dana MacDONALD, all of Halifax.
Visitation will be Monday, January 3rd from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
at Snow's Funeral Home on Windsor Street in Halifax.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Reverend Father Thomas Mabey on
Tuesday, January 4th at 10 a.m. at Saint Mary's Basilica on Spring
Garden Road in Halifax.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Adsum House or the
Victorian Order of Nurses of Halifax. Email condolences: snowfh@alderwoods.com
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ATV o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2005-12-02 published
KEATING,
Charles -- I Remember
By Peter HAYS,
Friday,
December 2, 2005, Page S9
Peter HAYS, a Calgary television producer and director, writes
about Charles
KEATING, whose obituary appeared on November 23.
Charles KEATING could be as imposing as he was kind. In the spring
of 2000, I was desperately trying to find financing for a television
satire of A&E's Biography called Liography. It was a project
I had wanted to do with actor Leslie
NIELSEN, and had been commissioned
by the Comedy Network, but had failed to get the full backing
of Telefilm. It was at risk of evaporating.
My friend and former colleague Nancy
REGAN, then a host at
ATV
News in Halifax, suggested I ask Charles for money.
Charles was known to have made a fortune when he sold his Dartmouth
cable company to the Shaw group. As a former reporter for the
Halifax Daily News, I knew he was a big Liberal, but I'd never
asked him for anything. A few days later, I was sitting in his
office, surrounded by dozens of photos of Charles with famous
people. He asked me in a booming voice why he should invest in
my wild idea. "Because," I promised, "You will be repaid in full
before anyone else profits from the project."
"Peter," he growled, "I don't need you to get to heaven." Indeed.
Charles did invest, making the series, which was a success, possible.
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