Harry J. Boyle

Harry J. Boyle
Chairmanof theCRTC
In office 1965–1977
Preceded by	Pierre Juneau
Succeeded by	Pierre Camu
Personal details
Born	(1915-10-07)October 7, 1915 St. Augustine,Ontario,Canada
Died	January 22, 2005(2005-01-22)(aged 89) Toronto, Ontario,Canada
Occupation	broadcast executive, writer

Harry Joseph Boyle(October 7, 1915 – January 22, 2005) was aCanadianbroadcaster and writer.

He began his career in media working for a local radio station during the 1930s and later as district editor for theStratford Beacon Herald.During this time he was also contributing articles to theLondon Free Press,Globe and Mailand theToronto Telegram.

In 1942, he began working for theCanadian Broadcasting Corporationas its farm commentatoras well as the director of theNational Farm Radio Forum.In 1947, he launchedCBC Wednesday Night,a three-hour commercial-free block of music, opera, plays, and other high-brow entertainment.

In 1968, Boyle was appointed vice-chairman of theCanadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission(CRTC), and in August 1975 became its chairman. He held this position until 1977.

After leaving the CRTC, he became a member of faculty at theBanff School of Artsand a member of theOntario Arts Council(1979–1982).

Boyle's writing was primarilyautobiographical fictiondealing with life in rural southern Ontario during the interwar period. Two of his books were awarded theStephen Leacock Medal for Humour:Homebrew and Patchesin 1964 andLuck of the Irishin 1976.

In 1978, he was made an Officer of theOrder of Canada.The same year he received an honorary doctorate fromConcordia University.

Selected publications

• The Inheritance: A Play in Three Acts(1949)
• Mostly in Clover(1961)
• Homebrew and Patches(1963)
• A Summer Burning(1964)
• With a Pinch of Sin(1966)
• Straws in the Wind(1969)
• The Great Canadian Novel(1972)
• Memories of a Catholic Boyhood(1973)
• The Luck of the Irish(1975)

External links

• Tribute by Pierre Juneau
• "Harry Boyle: Creator of Canada's modern public radio".National Post.25 January 2005.
• York University: Harry J. Boyle fonds
• Canadian Communications Foundation: Harry J. Boyle biography
• Harry J. Boyle
• Concordia University Honorary Degree Citation,June 1978, Concordia University Records Management and Archives