Bob Moir
1929 – December 18, 2016
Inducted 1991
Primary Outlet
Winnipeg Free Press, CBC
For more than 40 years, Bob Moir was a driving force in Canadian sports broadcasting.
He began his career as a reporter covering the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Free Press before joining CBC. Moir first worked as a commentator for CBC, calling the 1958 Grey Cup game and the network’s first Summer Olympics in Tokyo in 1964. From 1976-84, he served as executive producer of CFL coverage, including the Grey Cup, raising production standards and enhancing the league’s national profile.
Moir’s Olympic contributions were significant. As executive producer, Moir went on to lead production for the 1976 Montreal and 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics and 1992 Albertville Winter Games. Under his leadership, CBC expanded its coverage, introducing post-event athlete interviews and solidifying its role as Canada’s Olympic network.
At the 1972 Munich Summer Olympic Games, Moir and colleague Don Wittman slipped through a fence into the Olympic Village disguised as medical personnel, then reported live during the tragic Munich massacre where 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostages by terrorists and later killed. It was a bold act, but for Moir, delivering accurate and immediate news was second nature.
Moir also transformed the coverage of figure skating. He played a key role in popularizing the World Figure Skating Championships in Canada and introduced an instant-replay system for the International Skating Union, fundamentally changing the way performances were reviewed and judged. This innovation continues to influence the sport today.
Beyond his technical and editorial accomplishments, Moir was known for mentoring emerging broadcasters and producers. He was widely respected for his ability to recognize talent, share his expertise generously and direct praise toward his colleagues.
“Bob Moir was the first executive producer at CBC Sports to take a chance on me,” said Scott Russell, longtime CBC broadcaster. “He was quick to recognize good work, generous with his knowledge and always gave credit to others. To work for Bob was to work for the best.”
Moir’s enduring contributions earned him multiple Gemini Awards for his work at the 1994 Commonwealth Games. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame media wing and the CBC Sports Hall of Fame. He was also a founding member of the Football Reporters of Canada and the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.
Bob Moir was inducted into the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association Media Roll of Honour in 1991.
He began his career as a reporter covering the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Free Press before joining CBC. Moir first worked as a commentator for CBC, calling the 1958 Grey Cup game and the network’s first Summer Olympics in Tokyo in 1964. From 1976-84, he served as executive producer of CFL coverage, including the Grey Cup, raising production standards and enhancing the league’s national profile.
Moir’s Olympic contributions were significant. As executive producer, Moir went on to lead production for the 1976 Montreal and 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics and 1992 Albertville Winter Games. Under his leadership, CBC expanded its coverage, introducing post-event athlete interviews and solidifying its role as Canada’s Olympic network.
At the 1972 Munich Summer Olympic Games, Moir and colleague Don Wittman slipped through a fence into the Olympic Village disguised as medical personnel, then reported live during the tragic Munich massacre where 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostages by terrorists and later killed. It was a bold act, but for Moir, delivering accurate and immediate news was second nature.
Moir also transformed the coverage of figure skating. He played a key role in popularizing the World Figure Skating Championships in Canada and introduced an instant-replay system for the International Skating Union, fundamentally changing the way performances were reviewed and judged. This innovation continues to influence the sport today.
Beyond his technical and editorial accomplishments, Moir was known for mentoring emerging broadcasters and producers. He was widely respected for his ability to recognize talent, share his expertise generously and direct praise toward his colleagues.
“Bob Moir was the first executive producer at CBC Sports to take a chance on me,” said Scott Russell, longtime CBC broadcaster. “He was quick to recognize good work, generous with his knowledge and always gave credit to others. To work for Bob was to work for the best.”
Moir’s enduring contributions earned him multiple Gemini Awards for his work at the 1994 Commonwealth Games. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame media wing and the CBC Sports Hall of Fame. He was also a founding member of the Football Reporters of Canada and the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.
Bob Moir was inducted into the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association Media Roll of Honour in 1991.