Year Born: 1930
Year of Induction: 1995
Pioneer – Member of CAB Hall of Fame
Sherratt, Fred (1930- )
Toronto born, Fred Sherratt got his start in radio in 1948 as an announcer with a station in Truro, Nova Scotia, that had adopted the former call letters of a venerable Toronto station – CKCL. In 1949, he returned to Ontario, enriching his career as a salesman-announcer with Roy Thomson’s stations in Northern Ontario.
In 1956, Fred left the Thomson group to co-found with Ted Fielder CFRS in Simcoe, Ontario, and was general manager of the station until 1960, when he joined the CHUM organization and was named General Manager of the newly-acquired Peterborough station – CKPT. Five years later, he went back to Nova Scotia to take over the helm of CJCH Radio, Halifax, as Vice-President and General Manager.
In 1969, Fred Sherratt was named a Vice-President of CHUM Limited, and two years later, joined with CHUM and other investors to buy CJCH-TV, of which he was named President. In due course, CHUM Limited acquired the ownership of CKCW-TV Moncton and CJCB-TV, and the three TV stations came under the umbrella of the Atlantic Television System. ATV also founded the Atlantic Satellite Network.
Located at CHUM’s headquarters in Toronto, Fred Sherratt, as President of ATV and Executive Vice-President and CEO of CHUM Limited, became the overseer of CHUM’s many broadcasting operations from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
Fred’s extensive service on key industry boards and committees included 3 years as Chairman of the Bureau of Broadcast Measurement (BBM) – a Director of the CTV Television Network (of which ATV was the maritime affiliate) – membership on the CAB’s Board and its Executive Committee. His many awards include the 1984 CAB Distinguished Service Gold Ribbon, and the 1993 Ted Rogers Sr/Velma Rogers Award for ‘pioneering spirit and contribution to broadcasting’. An active sailor, he defended the Canada Cup against the U.S. in 1988.
In 1995, Fred Sherratt was inducted into the CAB Broadcast Hall of Fame.
In December, 2002, Fred Sherratt, who had previously retired as chief operating officer of CHUM Ltd., stepped down as Vice-Chairman, but continued as a director and consultant.
On Tuesday, October 7, 2008, the first-ever Ontario Asociation of Broadcasters’ Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Fred Sherratt. In December of the same year, it was announced that at the March 2009 Juno Awards, Fred Sherratt would receive the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award “…for an individual who has contributed to the growth and advancement of the Canadian music industry”.
Written by J. Lyman Potts – December, 2002