Broadcaster, Online Publisher, Historian, and Friend
June 1947 – June 2025
We are saddened to share the unexpected passing of Michael Easton, the founder of Puget Sound Radio and Easton Spectator. Mike leaves behind a lasting legacy in the broadcasting world and beyond.
A Lifelong Voice in Western Canadian Broadcasting
Known to Radio audiences as “Mighty Mike Easton”, Mike’s journey through the radio industry began over six decades ago. From his early years as an announcer and producer with CKDA and CFMS-FM Victoria in the mid-60s, to on-air roles at CJVI Victoria (1967-72) and CHEK-TV Victoria (1968-70), Mike’s voice became a familiar one to thousands of listeners.
He later brought his talents to CJJC Langley, CJCA-FM Edmonton, and CKPG Prince George. In 2006, he returned to his broadcasting roots by founding Puget Sound Radio, a hub of radio industry news, community, and commentary that became a cornerstone of Western Canadian and Pacific Northwest media coverage for professionals and enthusiasts alike.
Easton Spectator
Mike founded Easton Spectator in 2017 to be a venue for alternative media, exposing propaganda and corruption, so viewers could see what is really happening.
Mike’s vision and passion attracted respect for Easton Spectator and a big audience. The site was quoted by many significant names in online media.
Mike would want this included:
If you believe we are on a globe, watch this video in Mike’s memory (there are only 200 proofs in this video)
Guardian of Industry Memory
Mike could be a tough character: sharp-edged, opinionated, and unafraid to ruffle feathers. But beneath that exterior was a deep commitment to the people and history of broadcasting. Through PSR, he chronicled station moves, career shifts, industry news, and media obituaries that might otherwise have slipped through the cracks.
He gave a platform to the forgotten corners of the business, honoured voices from radio’s golden years, and kept tabs on the evolving media landscape in Western Canada. His work helped preserve an essential part of our cultural record.
A Legacy That Endures
Mike’s legacy lies not only in the stations he worked for, but in the stories he fought to document. Whether you knew him personally, followed his commentary, or simply read his site to keep up with the latest changes in the business – his presence was felt.
He leaves behind a unique and lasting contribution to Canadian broadcasting history.
Mike will be greatly missed by his family, friends, colleagues, and his audience.
We invite readers, friends, and colleagues to share their memories of Michael in the comments below.
Rest easy, Mike – and thank you for keeping the signal going.
Well……crap. Very sorry to hear this; Mike was a good friend of our family – I’d known him as a kid when he and dad were at CHEK TV.
After my dad, who also worked previously for several years at CJVI, left CHEK and his signature show Club 6 to move over as PD at Victoria Cablevision in 1970, Mike bravely assumed the helm and hosted the show until 1971.
As readers on this site know he was opinionated beyond measure, occasionally snarly, and waaaay over on the political Right; in recent years he and I clashed more than once, to the point he un-friended me three times on Facebook only to later profusely apologize and re-friend me each time, lol. Seeya Mike, happy trails and say Hi to dad for me…..
Sad news indeed. Michael certainly struck his own chord in life…a huge supporter of our industry…and definitely he was very kind and supportive of me…over many years. Very sorry to hear this today!
RIP Mike. You will be missed.
Michael Easton PARKSVILLE – Born and raised in Victoria, Michael knew at a very early age he belonged behind the mic, and at 12 years old, he built a closed circuit radio station in his folks basement which at its peak had about a dozen homes hooked up in the neighbourhood. This story made the local Daily Colonist, as well as the CBC National, when it ran at 11PM local time. His first professional job in radio, was at CKDA’s new FM station CFMS as operator, music programming, and soaking up as much as he could about the business. A year later he moved over to CKDA taking over all nights. Another year later, he was hired by CJVI to do a request and dedication show on Saturday nights. Later, at CHEK TV in Victoria he took on switcher/booth announcer as well as hosting a popular teen dance show call Club Six. Michael also worked for Ernie Mykete at CKAY in Duncan. After a season with CJCA FM in Edmonton it was back to Beautiful British Columbia at CKPG in Prince George and a stop over at CJJC in Langley, BC. In 2006 Michael took over the website [Puget Sound Radio], a media based website serving the broadcast community across Canada and the Pacific Northwest. In 2017 he launched another website [Easton Spectator, Connecting the dots] this one dealing with stories which rarely, if ever make it to mainstream media
Had occasion to chat with Mike a few times, nice fellow. RIP Mike
RIP my friend.
Michael was a great supporter of HoweStreet.com.
We had many great conversations about the broadcast industry and goings on all over the world. He was awake, a proponent of right vs. wrong, and cared about people.
From time to time he posted controversial topics, to make them part of the conversation.
He tried time and time again to awaken people to what was really happening.
For his troubles he ended up getting a bunch of nasty comments, some never saw the light of day (you know who you are).
A visionary, pioneer and a great guy!
Mike, you will be missed.
Shocked! Saddened… Michael and I likely passed each other coming and going through Internet rabbit holes, exploring theories, researching media stories. He will be missed.
Jason Remington
QZVX.COM
Very sad news.
Thanks to Michael for posting my comments over the years.
He said a number of times:
“(Name here) got jabbed. They have shit for brains!”
Well said.
Rest in Peace Michael.
rest in peacemike
So sorry to hear this particular piece of “news”. Have known Mike journalistically for years. He truly cared about our craft and those who worked in it. We often agreed and sometimes disagreed on issues, but I always found his views truly interesting, respected his sincerity and appreciated his willingness to give my blog a voice on his site, even when my opinions were at odds with his own. Rest in peace, Mike.
So very personal, caring, a man who you embraced because of his engaging manor I just spent the last 10 minutes finding the perfect Birthday wish for him, then this. he is one of the great ones, I will miss our conversations Thank you Michael, you are missed
I always knew I wanted to work with technology, so when I was just 15 years old I was looking through Craigslist for freelance digital work. I replied to an ad that sounded like a good fit, and received a very kind and thoughtful email back in response. It was clear that the person who wrote back really cared – both for what he had built, and for the people he worked with. We ended up working together on a few small jobs over the course of a few months in the fall of 2015. 15 year-old me was absolutely ELATED. Even though it was just some small jobs, it was lifechanging for me at the time.
The man on the other end of this exchange, was Michael Easton.
As hard as it is for me to believe, this was almost exactly 10 years ago. I am 25 now. Since then, the confidence I gained from working with Mike encouraged me to pursue my passion. I continued to work as a freelancer, got a bachelor’s degree in computer science, and I’m now using all those skills I’ve learned to run my very own successful business.
While I did not know Mike personally (and will forever regret not taking him up on his offer to come by his studio), I can confidentially say that he had a profound impact on my life, and the lives of many others.
Rest in peace, Mike. Thank you.
Very sad to see this. I go back with Michael to the very start of my career – in 1968, he encouraged me to try and get into the ‘the business’. Barry Bowman was the driver, but Mike helped me into the chair at CFAX. I will always be grateful for that, and we had memories with the late Ted Wendland and Mike’s ‘ Car Delivery Service’. The gentleman had many friends and held his Christian and political views, like a badge.
Rest easy Michael. Thank you.
So sorry to read this, Mike was a longtime Facebook friend. As a fellow blogger, I shared stories, some of them that he published.
May his memory be a blessing.
RIP Michael….Albeit we only knew each other via facebook and other mutual friends, there was an instant connection as we share very similar views on many current events and concerns…
May you watch over all of us now….and continue to inspire our desire to share ideas, and friendships…..
Reading the comments and your story through the eyes of others reconfirms that sometimes people are placed into our lives, for which their value adds so much to our world…, despite not even getting to meet them in person….
God bless those you loved and your family…as they treasure many memories and your contributions to so many….
With all the available radio talent; Is there any PSR heir apparent ?
A year ago, I met Michael in Parksville, BC, after years of phone calls and emails. I looked forward to spending time with this ‘notable,’ this influential figure, in the radio industry, and so we had lunch at a family restaurant in town.
We had a great chat.
I acknowledged his significant impact on the radio industry, but he seemed dismissive. I saw him as a trailblazer and original thinker, and I thanked him.
Michael poured his heart into his hobby — his websites — touching subjects others feared to discuss, such as the chem trails. He was one of the first to point this out and was often labeled a conspiracy theorist but, turns out, he was telling the truth. Let’s face it, It takes guts to stand alone and not go along with the crowd.
I was shocked and saddened when I learned of Michael’s passing. Who will replace him, I wonder? Perhaps no one can. Maybe the best way to honour Michael’s memory is to have an open mind, stand tall and guide humanity in the right direction.
Michael, you’re Home now. We’ll meet again, friend. Until that happens, please watch over us. Thanks again for everything.
Sad to hear. I got information from PSR that was nowhere else. May God bless you.