Year Born: 1919
Year Died: 1991
Year of Induction: 1986
Pioneer – Member of CAB Hall of Fame
Gourd, David-Armand “Bobby” (1919-1991)
Bobby Gourd’s entry into broadcasting dates from 1948 when together with Jean-Joffre Gourd, he purchased Radio Nord from Roy Thomson (later Lord Thomson of Fleet) and started operations with three radio stations.
Radio Nord owned CKRN Rouyn, CKVD Val d’Or and CHAD Amos – all in Quebec. With power ranging from 100 to 250 watts, these stations broadcast bilingually from small quarters with modest equipment for a few hours each day.
In 1950, the partners created Radio LaSarre Inc and launched CKLS-AM in La Sarre, Quebec.
In 1957, they put CKRN-TV on the air, and in 1960 began construction of three re-transmitting TV stations in the Abitibi-Temiscamingue region. In the years that followed, the company expanded its operations by acquiring licences for TV and FM stations in other areas, notably, the creation of CHOT-TV in Hull.
With Radio Nord, Bobby Gourd served as General Manager and President, and continued to hold various posts with the Rouyn-Noranda Press (director) and with Rouyn-Noranda Printing Co. (president/general manager).
During his active career in broadcasting, Bobby Gourd served as a co-founder and first president of l’Association canadienne de la radio et de la television de langue francaise, nine years as a director of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, including a term as vice-president. Bobby Gourd was active in dozens of community activities, serving as a president or committee member in various organizations.
In 1977, Bobby Gourd became a consultant to Radio Nord.
In 1986, Bobby Gourd was inducted into the CAB Broadcast Hall of Fame.
He passed away in 1991.
Written by J. Lyman Potts – March, 1997