John Ashbridge, the Vancouver Canucks public address announcer, and former news reporter and anchor, discusses his many years at radio station CKNW, news today, and announcing for the Canucks and other sports teams, with Joseph Planta.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, at TheCommentary.ca.

One of the finest and most recognised voices in this city and this province joins me now. John Ashbridge is the public address announcer at Vancouver Canucks home games since 1987. For a couple of years now, he’s shared those duties with Al Murdoch. He is however best remembered for a 40 year career, most of which were spent at radio station CKNW in their legendary newsroom. I remember many a morning listening to Mr. Ashbridge read the news. We’ll reflect on the news, on radio, his work at Rogers Arena and the Pacific Coliseum, where he’s announced for the Canucks, the Vancouver Giants, as well as Olympic hockey games and more. He began in radio over fifty years ago, with stints in Victoria, Prince George, and even Australia. He began at CKNW in 1965, returning in 1967, and again in 1973. He retired there in 2005. He is the recipient of the Radio and Television News Directors Association Lifetime Achievement Award. He is a member of the board of the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation. And he remains active with Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers. There’s a terrific Mike Cleaver interview that John did a few years ago that’s worth listening to too. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, in studio as it were, John Ashbridge; Mr. Ashbridge, good morning.

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