Ed Rawlinson (1912-1992)

Ed Rawlinson
Ed Rawlinson

Year Born: 1912

Year Died: 1992

Year of Induction: 1985

In 1946, Ed Rawlinson was offered the opportunity to buy Radio Station CKBI in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Having long been fascinated by radio, he seized the opportunity and thus seeded the foundation of what became one of the most successful group operations in Canadian broadcasting. As the originator of some stations and the purchaser of others, the Rawlinson group spread its wings from Alberta to Ontario, with radio and TV stations in some of Canada’s most important markets – CKBI-AM/CFMM-FM Prince Albert, CJNB North Battleford, CJNS Meadow Lake, CJME-AM/CIZL-FM Regina, CKOM-AM/CFMC-FM Saskatoon, CFFR Calgary, CFGO-AM/CJMJ-FM, Ottawa and CISS-FM Toronto. CKBI-TV Prince Albert,  which Rawlinsons founded in 1958, was sold to the Shamrock Television System, a subsidiary of Baton Broadcasting.

Ed Rawlinson was prominent in many organizations – President of the Western Association of Broadcasters, a Director and Member of the Executive Committee of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters. In the Prince Albert community, he served on several boards and committees including, among others, Chairman of the Board of Governors of Victoria Hospital, President of the Chamber of Commerce and a member of the University of Saskatchewan Board of Governors. As a chartered accountant, (a Fellow Chartered Accountant), he became President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. He was awarded the Centennial Medal in 1967.

In 1985, Ed Rawlinson was inducted into the CAB Broadcast Hall of Fame. He died in 1992.