Year Born: 1929
Year of Induction: 2007
Pioneer – Member of CAB Hall of Fame
Hogle, Bruce (1929- )
Bruce Hogle was born in 1929 and started his career as an announcer in 1947 at CHNO Sudbury. Following his family out West to Medicine Hat in 1956, he switched to print and became Sports Editor of The News, and then moved to Trail B.C. where he became Editor of The Times from 1956 to 1961. The next stop was back to broadcasting as News Director at CKRM Regina from 1961-`63. He then joined the Saskatchewan College of Physicians & Surgeons to handle their Public Relations from 1963 to `65. During that time, in 1964 he and four colleagues formed General Broadcasting Limited, and built Saskatoon’s first FM station, CFMC, which went on the air in December 1965.
The death of his father Bill Hogle in Edmonton in 1965, where he had been Director of News and Public Affairs at CFRN-AM & TV, brought him to Edmonton, where Dick Rice asked him to take over his father’s job. That was the beginning of his 25 years leading CFRN to make its mark as producer of Edmonton’s top newscasts. Under his leadership, CFRN radio and TV developed Canada’s first daily editorials which, over the years, forced government rent controls when unscrupulous landlords were increasing rents four times a year: campaigned successfully for the elimination of provincial legislation that prevented anyone over 45 years of age from adopting; led the collection of 7,000 pairs of skates for youngsters in the North West Territories, and were instrumental in starting Edmonton’s Block Parent program.
“Face The Newsmen” was one of many public affairs programs to be featured on CFRN. In the Public Affairs Documentary field “What About The Victim” spurred formation of the Alberta Crimes Compensation Board. Bruce also persuaded former Premier Peter Lougheed to permit live coverage of the Alberta Legislature sessions in 1973, a break-through for not only Canada but for the Commonwealth. This opened the doors for live coverage of government sessions throughout the Western World. The station still produces the Alberta Legislature’s “Question Period”, broadcast on the Provincial educational network.
Fund-raising was another way to earn listener and viewer loyalty. One such initiative, the CFRN Good Neighbour Fund Society, became one of the most successful fully-registered charities in North America. Operating for the past 20 years, with minimum overhead, the GNF has provided assistance to many needy individuals and families. Through Bruce following in his father Bill’s footsteps and then passing the gauntlet to his son Steve in 1989, the Hogle family kept the CFRN stations on an upward and successful path. By 2007, there had been a Hogle at CFRN stations for 53 years.
Bruce Hogle retired in 1989, the year he was inducted into the Order of Canada. In retirement he worked for many charity organizations and is President of Bruce Hogle Communications. He still worked on the News – writing a weekly summary of news tidbits called “Media Minute” for the weekly Edmontonian Magazine.
Bruce Hogle was inducted into the CAB Hall of Fame in 2007. In November 2011, he was elected to the Board of the Canadian Communications Foundation. He resigned from the Board in 2013.
Written by Pip Wedge October 2007
Updated December 2013