Coming and Going

Tue, 2008-12-23 09:04.

Dave Trafford

Christmas time is here and the New Year is in the wings - all set to make its grand entrance in about 9 days.

So with that in mind, here are my quick notes on the yearend.

I think the global financial funk has actually been a real boost for the real spirit of Christmas. Don't count on a Gip Forester account of Christmas 2008, but I've heard more people tell me they are focussing less on the "STUFF" this year and more on the need to be with family and friends. I'm certainly not wishing unemployment on anyone, but it's amazing how the prospects of job losses or a depressed economy can sharpen your view of what really matters in your life.

OF COURSE RETAIL SALES NUMBERS ARE LOWER!!! How can they NOT be? Stores and shops are selling the inventory at 50, 60 or 70% off! Even if we bought the same amount of STUFF as we bought last year...the math says the retailers are making as much money. But the media spins that out as if it's a BAD NEWS story. Arrrghhh!

Best part of the holidays ? The World Junior Hockey Championships kick off on Boxing Day!

Sad holiday note? A number of minor hockey tournaments have been shelved/cancelled/mothballed this Christmas. Travel costs are too high for the US and European teams who use to make the tradition trek to the land of snow and ice for some seasonal shinny with the kids. The Don Mills Flyers Minor Pee Wee Tournament is among the casualties. My friend Peter MacInnis has been the heart, soul and brain trust behind that tournament for decades. While I'm sure Tracy and the kids will enjoy Christmas with him away from the rink, Pete's one of the good guys in the game and I know he's going to miss the tournament.

Think way back to last January of 2008 and you may recall the storm and fury around the Africentric School debate in Toronto. My bold prediction??? This bad idea will whither and die with a whimper. Not enough resouces. Not enough parents are really willing to commit their kids to the program. Another "Jordan Manners" anniversary will come and go in May and precious little will have been done to address the real issue of youth violence and helping "at risk" kids in our neighbourhoods.

Not to be too boastful, but 2008 was a record year for us in the CFRB Newsroom. We won a boat load of major awards for our journalism including:

The Bill Carroll Show won an Edward R. Murrow Award for our Winter Storm Coverage.

Dave Agar won Canada's Best Radio Newscast of the Year.

Toronto at Noon won the "Peter Gzowski Award" for Best Information Programming.

...and we picked up Regional, National and International hardware and honours for our coverage of The Jordan Manners story, The Virginia Tech Massacre, David Bent's 5 O'Clock News, Best Use of Sound, Breaking News and Special Event Coverage.

Thanks for all your support in 2008.

Here's hoping 2009 treats you gently.

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