Don Mitchell was inducted into the Saskatchewan Assoc. of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. (submitted photo/Don Mitchell)

By paNOW Staff

Longtime broadcasters inducted into Hall of Fame

Sep 11, 2023 | 3:00 PM

He’s been ‘off the air’ for a few years now, but Don Mitchell continues to make an impact in the broadcast industry across the province.

Recently, the 82-year-old was inducted into the Saskatchewan Association of Broadcasters (SAB) Hall of Fame.

Mitchell called it ‘an absolute honour’ and reminisced about what should have been an unlikely career that started back in 1967 at CKOM in Saskatoon.

“I told Arnie Stilling, he was the program director there at the time, that I was interested in radio but had no experience. So, he told me I could come in and practice,” Mitchell said. “He pulled me into the office about a month later and said ‘you don’t have a great voice for radio, but you have determination and that’s important to me’ and so he let me work part-time.”

Mitchell worked as a DJ and newscaster and eventually became the host of CTV News at Noon in Prince Albert. He retired from television in 2006 but couldn’t give up the broadcasting bug. He worked for CKBI radio for several years and officially retired from the industry in 2016.

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“If you’re determined enough to do it and you want it bad enough – you’ll do it,” said Mitchell. “They told me I didn’t have a voice for radio…and when television came along, I was told I didn’t have a face for television…but I was still determined and away I went.”

Former radio broadcaster for CJVR in Melfort, Cal Gratton was also inducted into the SAB Hall of Fame.

“I was very honoured to receive the award. It was the icing on the cake of my career in broadcasting.”

Gratton was on the radio for 36 years, with the majority of that time being in Melfort.

Cal Gratton with his award. (Submitted/Cal Gratton)

“Being inducted with Don Mitchell is a thrill of mine. We spent a lot of time together in Prince Albert doing events, so it was a real honour to be there with him.”

Gratton also spoke highly of the radio industry in general – saying nothing beats local radio.

“The immediacy of radio is still there. We can report on things happening to our listeners in real time and that’s very important,” Gratton said.

Mitchell and Gratton join a storeyed list of Hall of Fame inductees including retired Pattison Media colleague, Neil Headrick who was affectionately known as ‘Doc of Rock’ on CKBI radio for decades.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com

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