George Balcan
Encyclopedia
George Balcan, CM
(June 29, 1932 – May 4, 2004), born George Adelard Alfred Balcaen, was a Canadian
radio broadcaster and artist.
Balcan was one of the most recognizable voices on the airwaves of Montreal for 30 years. Born in St. Boniface, Manitoba in 1931, Balcan first worked as a sketch artist in the engineering department of the Canadian Pacific Railway
in his native province.
Balcan began his broadcast career in 1951, when he was the first announcer to sign on with CKDM, a radio station in his hometown of Dauphin, Manitoba
. He was later discovered working at CKOC in Hamilton
by H.T. “Mac” McCurdy, who brought Balcan to Montreal in 1963 to serve as the afternoon host on CJAD. He then became the station’s morning man in 1967. Balcan moved to cross-town competitor CFCF in 1973, where he also served as an on-air host for their television service. He then returned to CJAD as morning man in 1975, where he remained until his retirement in 1998 — the longest ever to hold the position in any Montreal radio station.
He became an accomplished pastel
artist and was a member of the Pastel Society of Canada. His works have graced the walls of the National Gallery of Canada
in Ottawa
. In 1991, he and his family established the George Balcan Bursary at Concordia University, and awards given to Fine Arts students pursuing a major in painting and drawing. Balcan worked tirelessly in his community in support of many causes, including the fight against breast cancer
, and for juvenile diabetes research.
Balcan was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada
in 1996. In 2005, he was inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters
Hall of Fame. He died on May 4, 2004.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(June 29, 1932 – May 4, 2004), born George Adelard Alfred Balcaen, was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
radio broadcaster and artist.
Balcan was one of the most recognizable voices on the airwaves of Montreal for 30 years. Born in St. Boniface, Manitoba in 1931, Balcan first worked as a sketch artist in the engineering department of the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
in his native province.
Balcan began his broadcast career in 1951, when he was the first announcer to sign on with CKDM, a radio station in his hometown of Dauphin, Manitoba
Dauphin, Manitoba
Dauphin is a small city in Manitoba, Canada, with a population of 7,906 as of 2006. The nearby lake was given the name "Dauphin" by the explorer Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye in 1741 in honour of the heir to the French throne...
. He was later discovered working at CKOC in Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
by H.T. “Mac” McCurdy, who brought Balcan to Montreal in 1963 to serve as the afternoon host on CJAD. He then became the station’s morning man in 1967. Balcan moved to cross-town competitor CFCF in 1973, where he also served as an on-air host for their television service. He then returned to CJAD as morning man in 1975, where he remained until his retirement in 1998 — the longest ever to hold the position in any Montreal radio station.
He became an accomplished pastel
Pastel
Pastel is an art medium in the form of a stick, consisting of pure powdered pigment and a binder. The pigments used in pastels are the same as those used to produce all colored art media, including oil paints; the binder is of a neutral hue and low saturation....
artist and was a member of the Pastel Society of Canada. His works have graced the walls of the National Gallery of Canada
National Gallery of Canada
The National Gallery of Canada , located in the capital city Ottawa, Ontario, is one of Canada's premier art galleries.The Gallery is now housed in a glass and granite building on Sussex Drive with a notable view of the Canadian Parliament buildings on Parliament Hill. The acclaimed structure was...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
. In 1991, he and his family established the George Balcan Bursary at Concordia University, and awards given to Fine Arts students pursuing a major in painting and drawing. Balcan worked tirelessly in his community in support of many causes, including the fight against breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
, and for juvenile diabetes research.
Balcan was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 1996. In 2005, he was inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters
Canadian Association of Broadcasters
The Canadian Association of Broadcasters was the national voice of Canada's private broadcasters, representing the vast majority of Canadian programming services, including private radio and television stations, specialty, pay and pay-per-view services....
Hall of Fame. He died on May 4, 2004.