Gary Slaight to receive special Junos honour

CBC News

Posted: Nov 30, 2011 2:09 PM ET

Last Updated: Nov 30, 2011 2:08 PM ET

Gary Slaight, seen at left with Astral Media CEO Ian Greenberg in 2007, is the latest recipient of the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award. (Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)

Radio broadcasting mogul Gary Slaight will be honoured for his contributions to the Canadian music industry at the 2012 Juno Awards, organizers announced Wednesday.

The second-generation broadcast guru, who is president of Slaight Communications and founder of Slaight Music, is the 2012 recipient of the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award, given by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

"He's not only distinguished himself as a music innovator, he has made it his mandate to proactively support our nation's talented artists," CARAS president Melanie Berry said in a statement.

Slaight worked at labels Quality Records and WEA Records and at Toronto rock station Q107, where he rose to the posts of vice-president and general manager. In 2000, he took over leadership of his father Allan Slaight's Standard Broadcasting Corp., Canada's largest private radio network. In 2007, he negotiated the deal to sell Standard's 52 radio stations to Astral Media for more than $1 billion.

A champion of homegrown talent, he also created the National Songwriting Contest and the Canadian Radio Music Awards.

Organizers will pay tribute to Slaight at the 2012 JUNO Awards in Ottawa on March 31.

The senior Slaight won the Grealis Award in 2005, with other recipients including Guess Who producer Jack Richardson, True North record label founder Bernard Finkelstein and broadcasting guru Moses Znaimer.

Stay Connected with CBC News

Big Box Advertisement

Jedward on the MMVA red carpet by Laura Thompson Jun. 17, 2013 12:48 PM Cheerful pop duo Jedward had much to say to CBC News on the red carpet Sunday night at the Much Music Video Awards in Toronto. A lot of their excitement came from seeing Avril Lavigne, complete with spiky hairband. Check out the Irish twins in this video clip.

Top News Headlines

Montreal mayor resigns amid corruption charges

Montreal mayor resigns amid corruption charges: Montreal Mayor Michael Applebaum has resigned in the wake of corruption charges being laid against him, although he maintains he is innocent. more »

G8 leaders agree to 7-point plan on Syria as summit wraps: Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the other G8 leaders reach a seven-point plan aimed at stopping the conflict in Syria, wrapping up a two-day summit in Northern Ireland following talks on trade, tax evasion, poverty and terrorism. more »
Are e-cigarettes safe to puff?: As electronic or e-cigarettes grow in popularity, some health advocates want them to be regulated. more »
In Bangladesh's garment trade, empowerment comes at $20 a week: The pay is laughable by Western standards, and the shantytowns of Dhaka offer a difficult life. But the surge of mostly young women into the country's increasingly important clothing industry is having a profound change on this largely Islamic society, Margaret Evans writes. more »
Tory MP bows to Elections Canada in fight over expenses: Conservative MP Shelly Glover has bowed to Elections Canada in a battle over her 2011 campaign expenses, days after filing a court challenge against the agency. more »

Must Watch

Latest Arts & Entertainment News Headlines

Ai Weiwei's zodiac sculpture unveiled in Toronto

Ai Weiwei's zodiac sculpture unveiled in Toronto: A monumental sculpture series by Chinese activist-artist Ai Weiwei was officially unveiled Tuesday outside of Toronto's City Hall. more »

Stunt woman's phone hacked to overhear Angelina Jolie: A woman who worked as a stunt double for Angelina Jolie sued Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. in Los Angeles on Tuesday, claiming she's a victim of a phone hacking scheme to obtain information about the actress. more »
Crazy Rich Asians: an interview with author Kevin Kwan: In his debut novel, Manhattan-based Kevin Kwan returns to the moneyed Asian enclaves of his youth to satirize an outlandish, fantastical world of wealth. more »
Goon's Jay Baruchel, Michael Dowse honoured for hockey comedy: Actor Jay Baruchel accepted kudos for his work behind the camera on his hockey comedy Goon on Tuesday, with the avid Montreal Canadiens fan awarded Telefilm's Golden Box Office prize at the Hockey Hall of Fame. more »
Justin Bieber's car strikes pedestrian, but no charge laid: Los Angeles police say Justin Bieber struck a pedestrian with his car in Hollywood, but there was no crime and the injuries aren't life-threatening. more »

More Headlines »

Q Blog

The National performs live in studio Q Jun. 18, 2013 1:16 PM The indie rock giants play songs from their acclaimed sixth studio record, "Trouble Will Find Me".

CBC Books

Michael Pollan: 'We watch people cook on TV more than we cook ourselves' Jun. 18, 2013 4:51 PM Food writer Michael Pollan chronicles his pilgrimages to people who are keeping culinary traditions alive in his new book Cooked.