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by
Jim MacCallum
Veteran Vancouver
news anchor Tony Parsons
recalls his first
broadcasting experience
with amusement. "Not
in a million years,"
he thought, overwhelmed.
He was following his
dream of being a broadcast
journalist only to
get cold feet at the
first opportunity.
That was 1957. Having
written to a dozen
stations in southern
Ontario, he found
himself at CJCS in
Stratford.
Walking
away from this dilemma,
he arrived at the
bus station where
he sat and confronted
his fears and destiny.
Tony mustered his
courage and returned
to CJCS to embark
on a career that has
endured for half a
century and made him
one of the most familiar
faces on our television
screens. |
Born
in England in 1939,
Tony was the fourth
of six children raised
by parents John and
Julie Parsonage. John
spent the war as a Flight
Lieutenant in the RAF,
while Julie, of Italian
heritage, stayed in
London with the family
throughout the trauma
and tragedy of the Blitz.
"I can remember
sheltering in the Tube,
and playing with shrapnel
in the street,"
Tony relates. "As
small children we didn't
understand what was
happening." Tragedy
struck the family, with
his grandmother and
two aunts dying in the
bombing. His grandfather
followed shortly thereafter,
dying as Tony says,
"of a broken heart."
Tony and three of his
siblings were evacuated
to the safety of rural
England to spare them
from the threat of injury
or worse. This early
stage of his life remains
firmly etched on Tony's
psyche.
In
1948 the family settled
in the small town of
Feversham, Ontario.
"I think my mother
went into shock,"
Tony remembers. "Leaving
London to find herself
in what seemed like
a frontier town."
The family moved around
southern Ontario following
John's employment with
Ontario Hydro, and positions
in corrections and law
enforcement.
Tony
was greatly influenced
by his high school occupational
guidance teacher. He
had ambitions of becoming
a lawyer, but the teacher
suggested that with
his voice Tony should
consider a career in
broadcasting, then arranged
for bursaries to Ryerson
Institute in Toronto.
From this followed his
debut at CJCS that became
the foundation of his
career. It also became
the start of a life-long
association with another
fixture in Canadian
broadcasting, Lloyd
Robertson. Tony chuckles
at his father's reaction
to this line of work.
He would remark to Tony
that it was not a "real
job."
At
the outset, Tony moved
around a little. Spending
six months in Stratford,
he then went to Sarnia
as a station announcer
and late night newsreader.
Can one see our venerable
anchor as a DJ? Guelph
Ontario had the pleasure.
Then came a big break.
Tom Darling of CHML
in Hamilton came to
listen to a prospect,
but on hearing Tony
offered the position
to him. The next eight
years allowed Tony to
polish his reporting
skills on the city hall
and police beats. Tony
then found himself at
CHUM in Toronto for
a spell before making
the transition to television
on CFTO, CTV's flagship
station.
After
five years in the '60s
doing late news, Tony
felt the call of the
beat reporter once again.
In conversation with
CTV, he raised the idea
of a regional bureau.
The network offered
a minor location, but
he held fast for something
more substantial and
within months Vancouver
became available.
It
was April, 1974. $ 14000.00
per year and minus 10
weather to plus 20 -
heaven! Tony covered
the west coast from
the Yukon to California
on behalf of CTV and
enjoyed the challenge
of reporting to the
nation; also appearing
frequently on The National
and Canada AM. As time
passed, however, he
realized that he wasn't
being compensated for
a position that had
grown substantially
from its original mandate.
CTV
suggested a review after
a year but Tony, as
an accomplished professional,
knew his worth. Cameron
Bell of the Vancouver
CTV affiliate, BCTV,
spoke to Tony about
becoming anchor of the
local evening news -
at double his salary.
A walk around the block
led us to 2002, 27 years
of Tony Parsons as the
dinnertime companion
of thousands of British
Columbians. "If
I renew my contract
it will run to 2007,
marking 50 years in
the business."
Obviously
enjoying his work, Tony
gives credit to the
staff responsible for
writing and producing
the program. "My
input is more minimal
now," he explains,
"the writers are
excellent and I just
perform. All the support
staff are great."
In summing up his career
Tony reflects that "things
have fallen into place
all along. I've never
been criticized; never
unemployed."
Tony
Parson's life hasn't
been without challenges.
At the age of twelve
he spent two months
in Toronto's Hospital
for Sick Children with
rheumatic fever and
rheumatoid arthritis,
then had to deal with
a resulting heart murmur.
This was a traumatic
time, but more was to
follow. Tony relates
that he has struggled
with clinical depression,
a condition that is
quite common and has
finally been addressed
by the medical community.
With the right medication
it's under control and
he feels that those
who suffer from it should
never feel that they
bear a stigma.
Once
married, Tony now shares
a comfortable life with
his companion Taronne,
her two daughters and
Charlie. To anyone familiar
with the on-air routine,
Charlie is an American
Cocker Spaniel rescued
from the SPCA about
four years ago. His
constant companion,
Charlie spends most
telecasts at Tony's
feet, under the desk.
"We felt an immediate
bond. He's become the
mascot of the show,
viewers bring him gifts,
and there's a mural
of him in the station
courtyard."
Having recently moved
from an apartment on
UBC lands, Tony and
Taronne now enjoy the
more relaxed atmosphere
of their town home in
Ladner. He relates the
pleasures of taking
Charlie for long walks
and discovering a little
known nine-hole golf
course behind the complex.
Tony also has a property
in Whistler and a time
share in Phoenix, Arizona,
that he visits once
or twice a year. Other
passions that fill out
his life are cooking
and classical music.
Given the Italian heritage
of his mother, it's
no wonder that his tastes
tend towards pasta.
Sitting in his comfortable
family room, the view
of a well appointed
kitchen gives evidence
of a man who has learned
to appreciate the finer
things while not forgetting
those less fortunate.
Like many colleagues,
Tony contributes time
to a variety of causes
- the Cancer Society,
Crossroads Hospice,
and Variety Club and
Miracle Network Telethons.
He also participates
in charity golf tournaments
and says, "these
are good things; the
least I can do."
As
VP of news and public
affairs Tony maintains
a standard uncompromised
by outside influences.
This year's controversy
over the actions of
Izzy Asper, owner of
Canwest and BCTV Global
resulted in a torrent
of calls, letters, and
e-mails to all of their
affiliates. "The
perception that we aren't
autonomous is not true.
I care about journalistic
integrity. This hasn't
been touched and I would
walk if that happened."
Tony went on to explain
that the owners are
perceived to be a monopoly.
"There were calls
from viewers who threatened
to stop watching as
they felt that their
loyalty had been compromised."
Absorbing the passion
in his statements, it
is obvious that Tony
Parsons would never
betray this trust.
Enjoying
a comfortable relationship
with the other on-air
personalities, Tony
lauds their professionalism.
"Everyone gives
100%, they're a terrific
bunch - no egos over
airtime. That ambiance
is well proven by our
market share - three
to one over the competition."
Anyone familiar with
Vancouver TV has to
wonder when the station
ID crises will end.
On September first 2001
BCTV switched from CTV
to Global which caused
confusion among some
viewers. The loss of
popular personalities
such as Bill Goode and
Pamela Martin caused
some concern. Tony recalls,
"I was worried
about some of these
changes, but it worked
out. Our attitude is
that the new owners
won't tamper with success,
and so far that's the
case."
The
disaster of September
11, 2001 is etched indelibly
in our memories. Along
with the Kennedy assassination
and the fall of the
Hindenburg, it was one
of those events that
assault our sensibilities
and show us how the
age of instant communication
has brought us closer
to the often brutal
realities of the human
condition. Tony Parsons
agrees that this has
changed the world, as
we know it. "I
was called by Clive
Jackson from the station
at 6:00 AM, who told
me to turn on the TV.
I saw the first plane
and thought it was a
weird accident. Then
what followed led me
to think, what's next?
What else could come
from these devious minds?
I hope it's all behind
us."
Tony has recently been
bestowed a great honour.
On behalf of the Governor
General, Senator Edward
Lawson awarded him the
Queen's 50th Anniversary
Commemorative Gold Medal
for outstanding service
in the community as
a journalist. This was
presented at a recent
fund raising golf tournament
for the BC Rehabilitation
Foundation.
After
almost half a century
of perfecting his skills,
Tony Parsons displays
the quiet demeanor of
a man who is comfortable
with his place in life
and appreciative of
the circumstances that
helped him achieve it.
Open, honest, and durable,
he will continue to
serve the interests
of his viewers and remain
an icon of truth and
integrity in broadcasting.
Watch Tony Parsons on
BCTV on GlobalTV or
visit www.canada.com/vancouver/globaltv |
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