Ernie Nairn

CJNU Announcer

I attended Gordon Bell High School and United College Collegiate. After completing high school, I attended the University of Manitoba for two years and then enrolled at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, where I studied broadcasting and journalism.

I started broadcasting at the university station, KFJM, and was later hired at the CBS affiliate KILO in Grand Forks. After graduation, I returned to Canada in 1960. I worked at CFCN Radio and Television (CTV) in Calgary and CKX Radio and TV in Brandon before being hired at CBC Winnipeg in 1964.

During a 30-year broadcasting career with CBC television and radio in Winnipeg and Regina, I hosted many radio shows and did news, sports and weather on Information Radio and the local Noon Television Show and 24 Hours. I was also the announcer on the popular high school quiz show, Reach for the Top with moderator Bill Guest.

Ernie on the air during his CKX Brandon days in the early 1960s.

During the last 20 years of my CBC career, I was a television sportscaster at CBC Winnipeg. I covered local and national sports events, including Grey Cup games, the Western Canada Games in Calgary, the Canada Winter Games and the World Junior Hockey Championships.

In 1986, I was recognized as the best sportscaster in Canada for 1986 and was awarded the ACTRA 'Foster Hewitt Award' for coverage of amateur sports for the series titled 'The Amateurs' featured weekly on the supper hour 24 Hours news show.

Since retiring from the CBC in 1992, I have worked extensively as a freelance sportscaster at Global Television and back at CBC. I have also done media relations work for the Winnipeg Goldeyes, the 1999 Pan Am Games Bid Committee and the '99 Pan Am Games Host Society. I was then contracted to be the local liaison for the United States Olympic Committee and their 1999 Pan Am Games.

After the '99 Games, I was hired to be the Director of Media and Corporate Relations at Assiniboia Downs for 6 years. Now, in addition to my volunteer announcing duties on CJNU-107.9 FM, I currently work as the Executive Director for the Assiniboia Chamber of Commerce.