Ernie Nairn
Inducted 1992
Primary Outlet
CBC
Ernie Nairn enjoyed a distinguished broadcasting career of more than 35 years. Growing up in Saskatchewan in the 1940s, he was influenced by the many CBC and American comedy and drama shows he listened to that reflected and shaped the cultural landscape of both Canada and the United States.
His career began at KFJM, the University of North Dakota’s station, where he studied broadcasting and journalism and had his first opportunity to do announcing. After graduating in 1960, Nairn was hired as an announcer/operator at Calgary’s CFCN Radio and Television from September 1960 to July 1962. He then moved to Brandon’s CKX Radio and TV and spent two years there as a staff announcer until May 1964, when he was hired by the CBC in Winnipeg. He spent the rest of his career as an announcer and sportscaster on both radio and TV with CBC until his retirement in November 1992.
Throughout his career, Nairn covered the Winnipeg Jets, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Grey Cup games, national curling championships, world junior hockey championships, Canada Summer and Winter Games, Western Canada Summer and Winter Games and Manitoba Summer and Winter Games.
Nairn won the ACTRA Foster Hewitt Award in 1986 as the top sportscaster in Canada for his coverage of amateur athletes featured on 24 Hours and 24 Hours Late Night news programs. He was also the recipient of two Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medals for his contributions to CBC and the Winnipeg community. His second Jubilee Medal recognized his eight years of service as executive director for the Assiniboia Chamber of Commerce. He helped establish the annual Rady JCC Ken Kronson Sportsmen’s Dinner in 1972 with founder Ken Kronson. Nairn was the event’s media chair for 47 years.
Nairn recalled meeting 1936 Olympic multi-gold medallist Jesse Owens when he was the keynote speaker at the 1976 Rady JCC Sportsmen’s Dinner.
“I picked him up at the airport and took him down to CBC,” Nairn said. “John Harvard interviewed Owens and talked about his great Olympic athletic career. What an honour to have met and spent some time with this distinguished gentleman.”
During his retirement, Nairn volunteered as an announcer for CJNU-FM (93.7 Nostalgia Radio). Nairn’s dedication to highlighting local athletes, advocating for amateur sports and conducting high-profile interviews has cemented his legacy as a local sports broadcaster and enthusiast.
Ernie Nairn was inducted into the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association Media Roll of Honour in 1992.
His career began at KFJM, the University of North Dakota’s station, where he studied broadcasting and journalism and had his first opportunity to do announcing. After graduating in 1960, Nairn was hired as an announcer/operator at Calgary’s CFCN Radio and Television from September 1960 to July 1962. He then moved to Brandon’s CKX Radio and TV and spent two years there as a staff announcer until May 1964, when he was hired by the CBC in Winnipeg. He spent the rest of his career as an announcer and sportscaster on both radio and TV with CBC until his retirement in November 1992.
Throughout his career, Nairn covered the Winnipeg Jets, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Grey Cup games, national curling championships, world junior hockey championships, Canada Summer and Winter Games, Western Canada Summer and Winter Games and Manitoba Summer and Winter Games.
Nairn won the ACTRA Foster Hewitt Award in 1986 as the top sportscaster in Canada for his coverage of amateur athletes featured on 24 Hours and 24 Hours Late Night news programs. He was also the recipient of two Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medals for his contributions to CBC and the Winnipeg community. His second Jubilee Medal recognized his eight years of service as executive director for the Assiniboia Chamber of Commerce. He helped establish the annual Rady JCC Ken Kronson Sportsmen’s Dinner in 1972 with founder Ken Kronson. Nairn was the event’s media chair for 47 years.
Nairn recalled meeting 1936 Olympic multi-gold medallist Jesse Owens when he was the keynote speaker at the 1976 Rady JCC Sportsmen’s Dinner.
“I picked him up at the airport and took him down to CBC,” Nairn said. “John Harvard interviewed Owens and talked about his great Olympic athletic career. What an honour to have met and spent some time with this distinguished gentleman.”
During his retirement, Nairn volunteered as an announcer for CJNU-FM (93.7 Nostalgia Radio). Nairn’s dedication to highlighting local athletes, advocating for amateur sports and conducting high-profile interviews has cemented his legacy as a local sports broadcaster and enthusiast.
Ernie Nairn was inducted into the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association Media Roll of Honour in 1992.