I had the pleasure of working with Gord at the old Mix 96 in Edmonton. I was in one of my early career unemployment phases picking up PT work with Mix in my hometown. My best memory of Gord is how he helped mentor me with coaching and advice through air checks. PT overnight fill in guys can feel off the radar thinking their biggest job is making sure the faxed prep sheets are copied and the carts are pulled for the upcoming morning show. Gord never made me feel that way. To have one of radio's greats make time for the overnight guy living in his parent's basement made me feel like I was an important part of the team. When Gord moved on to be a PD in Lethbridge, we kept in touch though never worked together again. My loss.
Rob's note also brought a large smile to my face to see that Gord & Seanna, the morning show for a period of time when I was that PT overnight guy, continued their friendship.
I became a better jock because of Gord. He'll be missed.
I will echo what it seems everyone has been saying about "The Bear". I had the pleasure of working with Gord at King FM/Power 92 in the late 80's and early 90's. He truly was a nice guy and I am sad at his passing. It seemed just the other day he was saying "Hey Ronnie, how's your day going" of course that was years ago... On air today I mentioned his passing on my show at EZ Rock in Edmonton...I completely locked up and started tearing up and had a hard time continuing the break. I will remember the big guy as one of nicest people I have had the pleasure of knowing in and out of the radio business....
The CORUS family was very sad to learn of the death of Gord Robison.
In a career that spanned decades Gord was known as an outstanding broadcaster, a dedicated sports �nut� and a man who believed in the teaching of his craft to the next generation.
The names, of the many he mentored, are scattered across hundreds of Canadian radio stations. Few Canadian broadcasters led the charmed and charming life of Gord Robison, who felt equally at home interviewing rock and roll icons as he did hockey greats!
From east to west, north to south his particular brand of talent is rarely seen in today�s radio stations. Gord mastered every skill, honed every talent and capitalized on every opportunity.
No challenge was too great or too small�he could and would do it all�.. after all he was GORD ROBISON� a great voice has been silenced.. and we miss him.
Gord was one of the biggest influences I've had since I entered this industry over 10 years ago. Much of my success is at least partially due to his guidance early in my career. He gave me my first break, always told it to me straight and consistently earned his reputation as a performer, mentor and person.
The saddest part of this is that I never realized how big of an impact he had until the moment I read of his passing.
All the best to the truly important ones in his life, and farewell...
I would like to add my condolences to Audrey and family on the passing of Gord Robson. Gord was a big guy with an even bigger heart and the nicest person I ever spent five years in the office next door to.
Gord always remembered the names of my kids and what they were doing and was proud to talk about his own children. I have kept in touch with Gord over the years and he was always positive and moving forward.
Wow. What a shocker. Gord was one of the best in the business. I got to know him during our days as PD's for Moffat. His good nature and patience with people was exemplary. I can name throngs of people who benefitted from knowing Gord. You can count me as one of them. My deepest sympathy to Gord's family and many friends.
I'm very happy to read all the great tributes to Gord. Bruce and Rob's posts are right on the money. As a young man starting in the business, Gord "Skip" Robson was a man to look up to. When I would drive into Vancouver and hear him on LG73, I thought he was the best and had the greatest gig in radio! To me, hearing him was an inspiration and I thought to myself,.."Gord Robson is the best....!"
I knew I reached a high point in my career when Gord and I worked shoulder to shoulder at COOL 880. I really was in awe of the fact that Gord Robson and myself were on the air at the same station. I would ask him all about his time in radio and I would revel in his stories. He truly was one of the best and most of all, a good man with a big heart and a tremendous love for radio and his family. If we all had an ounce of his enthusiasm, the sun would shine just a bit brighter.
I knew Gord for a short time but I'm proud to say we became good friends and he considered me one of his peers. That's how Gord was. A very kind hearted soul. He treated people with respect and he was a big gentle bear.
I know he's doing the drive shift in Rock and Roll Heaven.....
My sincerest condolences to Audrey and the children. Gord was my colleague and my friend. He supported me in my first management position with humour, intelligence and comraderie. I miss you, my friend. Sleep well and God Speed!
from Graham Hick's Hicks on Six Edmonton Sun Tuesday March 25th, 2008
SADDER PASSING
Edmonton radio's close-knit "brotherhood of the good guys" is in mourning.
Gord Robson was found dead in his apartment last Friday.
He'd been laid-off from his afternoon-drive job at Cool 880 by Corus Entertainment last Monday with the impending format change from classic pop music to all-news.
Gord, 56, had not been in good health for several years.
Not that well-known outside the industry, his on-air career peaked with CHED in the early '70s and then in Vancouver at CKLG after that.
For the past decade or so, Gord had been in Edmonton, Moose Jaw and Lethbridge before joining Cool 880.
"He was just the nicest guy," says Standard Broadcasting station manager Marty Forbes.
"A true heart of gold. And he had a passion for teaching. He helped so many radio greenhorns learn their craft."
"Gord was kind, considerate, fair. Just a truly loveable guy, a big teddy bear in his healthier days," says close friend Rob Christie, now of Magic 99. "He was almost too nice a guy to be in radio."
No announcement yet on a memorial/funeral service.
I have to concur with all the good things being said. As good a broadcaster as he was, and I too remember listening to him on LG73, his real strength was his ability to make everyone he met feel important.
The last time I saw him was 4 or 5 years ago. He was "betweeen gigs" and stopped in Calgary to reminisce with Hal Gardiner and Billy Powers and extended the invite me as well. I was surprised he even remembered me because I was pretty close to low man on the totem pole in the newsroom (weekend swing) when he was the PD.
I join the others in sending my condolences to Audrey and the kids. The world, not just the radio world, has lost one of its good guys at a time when it seems there already too few.
Oh my God - I'm still in shock. Just logged onto PSR and saw the bad news. I spoke with Gord about a year and a half ago and hoped and prayed that he was on the road to recovery.
Firstly, condolences to Audrey and family. Secondly, to those of you writing tributes to Gord's memory - you're great and have shown Gord to be exactly what he was - a true professional.
I will eternally remember Gord as a great broadcaster and a true gentleman and I'll never forget bumping into him and the twins at a restaurant in Surrey, BC when he was at CKLG. My wife's comments after he left our table - what a gentleman and really nice guy. When we spoke by phone in 2006, he was brutally honest about his addiction issues and I praised him saying that this was a great step towards recovery.
Gord, you're in a better place buddy, but all the same you had a great impact on many down here and we'll miss you. RIP.
Thanks to www.RockRadioScrapBook.ca for allowing us to use there tribute.
In a career that has taken him from Montreal to Vancouver and several points in between, Gord Robson has been a mainstay in Canadian rock radio for four decades. It all started for Robson in 1968 at CKXL Calgary and continued in the 2000s with his duties as PD and morning host at "The River" in Lethbridge, Alta. His career has taken him to such legendary stations as CFOX Montreal, CKRA and CHED Edmonton and CKLG Vancouver.
Robson tells Rock Radio Scrapbook about the CKLG years...
"It was a great radio station with fantastic talent that all went on to great careers. The battle was intense with CFUN. CKNW was #1 and both of us said we were the number-one rock stations and we were both right. Great talent, great programming ... Chuck McCoy at CFUN and his brother Gary Russell at CKLG. Great PD's ... a great time in radio in Vancouver."
I met Gordon S. Robison in 1968, both of us working at CKXL1140. (That was before child labour laws.) In all the years since, he made a point of staying in touch, and I've never met a better friend.
They say no matter how much you love Radio, Radio can never love you back.
But you meant a lot to a whole lot of people, dear friend. RIP
from today's Edmonton Journal Friday March 28, 2008
Gord Robison
ROBISON, Gord It is with great sadness that the family of Gord Robison announce his sudden passing on March 21, 2008 at the age of 56 years. Gord is lovingly remembered by his twin sons Curtis (Andrea) and Brett (Zuzana) and daughter Patricia along with their mother Audrey. Gord was predeceased by his mother Pat and by his father Ron.Being a radio broadcaster for the past 40 years Gord touched many peoples lives.
From his early days at CKXL in Calgary to his final days at CHQT in Edmonton Gord loved being on the air. He was also passionate about mentoring new talent and enjoyed watching them progress in their careers. Gord will be dearly missed by his family and friends.
A Private Family Memorial Service celebrating Gord's life took place on Thursday, March 27, 2008. Inurnment followed in the Riverside Cemetery Columbarium in Vegreville, Alberta.
In lieu of other tributes the "Gord Robson Scholarship Fund" has been set up through the NAIT Radio & Television Program.
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