Former on-air personalities share memories of their time at CKVR

CKVR093025_CKVR70GREETINGS

CKVR marked a major milestone on Sept. 28 - its 70th anniversary. Founded in 1955 by Ralph Snelgrove, the Barrie-based station holds many fond memories for those who spend many years within the walls of the station on the hill.

It’s also been a launching pad for numerous talented individuals who went on to shine in the media landscape.

Keith Radford started his broadcasting career at CKVR anchoring ‘Total News.’ Radford went on to anchor Channel 7 Eyewitness News in Buffalo New York. He retired after 33 years in 2021.

The former anchor recalled one particularly fond memory from his time in Barrie. “No question, no contest, the Queen’s Hotel. Every night at 11:30, 12 o’clock, we would all head down there after the news,” Radford shared.

Some may remember Andrea Canning as a reporter and anchor with The New VR in the early 2000s. Canning is now a correspondent for ‘Dateline’ and has held many positions with NBC over the years.

Canning grew up in Simcoe County and remembers her time at the Beacon Road station. “What was so special about it was being a hometown girl and being just an hour from Collingwood and Blue Mountain and to be able to be on TV and surrounded by family and my community,” she said. “My time there just set me up to do bigger things, but I’ve never forgotten my time there. It was the best.”

Kevin Frankish is a well-known face for many viewers. He started at CKVR in 1983 and after many years moved on to co-host Breakfast Television with City TV.

“I have so many wonderful memories from being there, but I think one of my favourites was getting to do a story about growing in lovely little Vasey, and another is co-hosting the 12:30 news with my talented friend Kevin Marks,” shared Janie Robinson, who was an on-air presenter in Barrie on and off from 1980 to 2001.

Frank Ferragine, who spent several years covering weather duties in Barrie, says the station’s longtime weather specialist, Bob McIntyre, inspired his career.

“I started back in 1994 in Bob’s Garden and really I got to do many things, from flying with the Snowbirds to going to Disney. But my favourite memory of all time is just being in the garden with Bob,” Ferragine said.

McIntyre retired in 2015 after four decades with the station and passed away after a long battle with cancer in 2016.

“It’s been an important broadcast for many generations and I’m so proud to have been part of it,” said Jayne Pritchard, who spent nearly 40 years with the station, including several years as a news anchor. Pritchard retired in 2022 and went on to publish a book about her personal cancer journey.

KC Colby and Rob Cooper are still part of the on-air team with CTV News Barrie. Both started more than two decades ago and continue to report on stories that happen across Simcoe County and Muskoka.

Throughout its seven decades, CKVR has weathered significant events, including the 1985 tornado and a plane crash in 1977 that destroyed its transmitter tower.

Today, the station still sits on the Beacon Road hill with the 1,000-foot tower hovering above. Tune in all week as we broadcast tributes to mark the 70th anniversary on CTV News at 6.