VANCOUVER – Radio announcer, programmer and executive Patrick Cardinal died Tuesday after a battle with cancer. He was 54.
Born and raised in Winnipeg, Cardinal began his radio career in 1979 at CJRL Radio in Kenora, ON before heading back to Winnipeg in 1981, where he spent six years with CFRW. He continued to zig-zag the country, with stints in Vancouver, Hamilton, Edmonton, and Toronto before heading west once again to Vancouver. In 2003, Cardinal was back in Toronto in the role of station manager for CISS-FM/CJAQ-FM. In 2006, he worked as operations manager for Newcap Radio Group Edmonton until 2008, followed by a role as program manager for Newcap Alberta. In 2012, Cardinal was named general manager for Astral Radio’s Edmonton stations (later acquired by Bell Media) including 100.3 The Bear, 104.9 Virgin Radio, and TSN 1260, reads a statement issued by Bell Media.
“Pat loved radio, an industry to which he dedicated his entire career and worked tirelessly to shape and grow, earning the deep respect and admiration of his industry colleagues and peers,” said Bell Media Radio Alberta VP Stewart Meyers, in the statement. “Pat’s creativity and vision have had a profound and positive impact on the stations and staff of Bell Media Radio Edmonton, as well as the numerous people and lives he touched across Canadian radio operations. Pat was a unique character and a ferocious competitor, yet one who always paused to enjoy a laugh. We are deeply saddened by this loss. He will be sorely missed.”
“Pat made great radio, he caused waves and was someone I preferred to work with rather than compete against,” added longtime friend and Jim Pattison Broadcast Group programming director Ross Winters, in a post on FYI Music News. “When I visited Pat a few times in the past week he wanted to talk about radio and the stations that I work with. At one point Pat said, ‘I am lying here and I know more about everyone's radio stations and radio companies than anybody else because everyone comes in here and tells me stuff, that's gotta be worth something,’ which he said with a smile.”
On Monday, what would turn out to be the final full day of his life, Cardinal learned that he will be inducted into the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame at Canada Music Week on May 5.
Details for a celebration of life in Toronto will be announced shortly.
