630 CHED and Global News Radio 880 Edmonton Announce Retirement of Syd Smith
For Immediate Release
EDMONTON, August 17, 2020 – Corus Radio announced today that Syd Smith, Director of Talk and Talent, is retiring from radio after an impressive 35 years in the industry. His last day managing 630 CHED and Global News Radio 880 Edmonton is October 31.
Syd Smith joined 630 CHED in September 1996 and was originally responsible for hosting Edmonton Oilers broadcasts. This role grew to include daily sports talk show duties the following year. He was further promoted to Assistant Program Director in 1998, while still remaining an active and well-known personality on the station’s airwaves. Smith was named Program Director for 630 CHED in 2005. In 2008, his role expanded again to include Global News Radio 880 Edmonton. He has been in a management role full-time since retiring from on-air work in 2012, providing oversight across all Corus stations in Edmonton since 2016.
“Syd’s leadership, radio know-how, smile and trademark chuckle will be missed in the hallways and zoom calls. However his successes, including the teams he’s assembled, the people he has mentored, and the culture he has built at Corus Radio in Edmonton will continue to reflect the empathy, earnestness and trustworthiness that Syd is so well known for. Every day, by keeping his word, actively listening, honestly communicating and building a clear path to success, Syd showed his team, his community, and his colleagues that he cared,” said Larry Gifford, National Director of Talk Radio, Corus Entertainment. “Thank you for caring, Syd. Your entire Corus family wishes you all the best in your retirement.”
“It was always my dream to work in major market radio but I could never have imaged a career so varied and fulfilling,” said Syd Smith. “Most of all, I’m thankful for all of the wonderful people I’ve met and had the good fortune of learning from and working alongside for so many years. And for the listeners who’ve been kind enough to tune in to the work we are all so proud of.”
Smith’s career began in his hometown of Kirkland Lake, Ontario. Before joining Corus, he worked at various stations in Saskatchewan and Alberta throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s.
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