Year Born: 1933
Year of Induction: 1989
Pioneer – Member of CAB Hall of Fame
Schurman, Paul H. (1933- )
Paul Schurman’s 33-year career in radio broadcasting began in 1959 when he was hired as announcer/operator by CJRW, Summerside, PEI. Skilled as an athlete, particularly in baseball and hockey, he was a “natural” for the role of Sports Director, which position he played until 1975 while “doubling in brass”.
Paul was appointed Assistant Manager and Local Sales Manager in 1961, Assistant General Manager/Local – Regional – National Sales in 1965, and became General Manager in 1970. In 1973, on the death of his brother Robert C. Schurman, he succeeded him as President.
Over four decades, Paul was deeply involved at community, provincial, regional and national levels, serving as a director, chairperson, president, supporter of countless charitable and public service organizations, and was the recipient of many awards for his leadership and tireless efforts on behalf his fellow Canadians. His talents as an on-air broadcaster led him to become a most sought-after guest speaker and master of ceremonies at celebrity dinners and other public functions.
Representative of Paul’s many honours and awards for his dedicated service in the island province are his being named in 1982 as “Citizen of the Year”; 1984, recipient of the Order of Red Cross; 1992, induction into the PEI Sports Hall of Fame and the coveted Order of Canada. In 1993, he received the Commemorative Medal of the 125th Anniversary of Canada.
Paul served as President of the Atlantic Association of Broadcasters (1983); President – Kay Reynolds Provincial Independent Living Centre; President – PEI Special Olympics; Vice-President Community Foundation of Prince Edward Island; Atlantic Director – Community Foundations of Canada – Chairperson, Prince Edward Island Museum & Heritage Foundation.
In 1991, Paul was the first recipient outside of the City of Toronto to receive the “Paul Mulvihill Heart Award” – presented to individuals judged by their broadcasting peers to have given of themselves to enhance charitable community endeavours in Canada.
On September 9th, 1999 in recognition of his remarkable contributions to the social, economic and cultural life of the Province and its people, Paul was invested in the Order of Prince Edward Island – the highest honour given by the Province to individual citizens.
Just four months earlier, on May 4th, on a Par 3, 148 yard Hole 16, at Cavendish’s Green Gable Course, Paul recorded his third life-time hole-in-one, breaking a two-hole-in-one tie with wife Barb.
Eloquent designer and writer Wayne Wright of the PEI Sports Hall of Fame, said of Paul – “Whether as the spell-binding master of ceremonies at a sports award night, or the tireless worker behind the scenes, the name of Paul H. Schurman has invariably meant one thing above all else – ‘grace under pressure'”.
Paul Schurman was inducted into the CAB Broadcast Hall of Fame in 1989. He retired in 1992.
Written by J. Lyman Potts – October, 1996