Year Born: 1916
Year Died: 1967
Year of Induction: 1986
Pioneer – Member of CAB Hall of Fame
Caine, Howard C. (1916-1967)
Founder of CHWO Oakville (1956), Howard Caine’s radio career began in the mid-30s as an announcer with CKOC Hamilton.
Following a 6-year stint as a Lieutenant in the RCNVR during WW II, in 1946 he joined the staff of CKEY Toronto, then owned by Jack Kent Cooke.
In 1947, Howard became the Radio Director of the E. W. Reynolds advertising agency, and one year later moved over to Vickers and Benson as Radio-TV Director. But before the decade closed, Caine took on the job of putting Foster Hewitt’s station (CKFH) on the air and became its first General Manager.
By November 1956, Howard and (wife) Jean had their own radio station – CHWO in Oakville.
In the years that followed, Howard played an active role in industry affairs as a President of the Central Canada Broadcasters Association and as a Director and Vice-President of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters. However, he was stricken with cancer in the prime of his career, and died at Christmas-time in 1967.
In 1968, he was named by the CCBA as “The Broadcaster of the Year”, and in his memory, his fellow broadcasters established “The Howard Caine Public Service Award” which is presented annually to an Ontario region broadcaster who has been recognised for a significant contribution to his or her community.
In 1986, Howard C. Caine was inducted into the CAB Broadcast Hall of Fame.
Written by J. Lyman Potts – February, 1996