Personalities
Don Mark
Don Mark became another household name to people in the Sudbury area
as a result of his 20-year run on air. His career in
broadcasting was never planned and never expected.
Don is originally from Toronto. He worked as a ski instructor
at Searchmont in Sault Ste. Marie. One of his classes involved
a group of people from one of the area radio stations. He
eventually developed a friendship with the Program Director who
offered him a part-time job as a disc jockey. He enjoyed the
work and within only weeks accepted a full-time on-air position at
the old CKCY in Sault Ste. Marie. He found himself at another
station in the Soo and then at North Bay. Finally he was on
the air at CKSO AM in the early 1980's replacing Michael Cranston.
He moved over to television in the fall of 1984 on an invitation
from CKSO TV Producer Larry Gavin. At that time CKSO AM and
CIGM FM were not under the same ownership as television. Mark
was hired to host a noon-hour talk show, but he worked on other
projects like the Reach for the Top quiz show.
Mark went on to help produce and host a popular outdoor show,
"Fishing the North". It was a weekly half-hour show in which
Mark and a small crew travelled to various fishing spots around
Ontario. The show ran from 1991 to 1995 with very popular
ratings. It became one of the most watched outdoors programs
in Canada. With the show carried on satellite, people as far
away as Alaska and all over North America could view the program.
Don retired from broadcasting, signing off on Friday, January 21st
of 2005 on MCTV's Noon-Hour Television Show. Mark accepted a
new job as a Communications Specialist with the Sudbury office of
the Ministry of Natural Resources.
Mark reflects on his broadcasting career as one filled with fun and
great memories and with lots of stories to tell. Like the
majority of people getting started in the business 30 and 40 years
ago, Mark entered with no diploma or degree in radio and television,
but rather with an undying love for the business.
Mark also ran for Sudbury MPP for the Conservatives in 1995 and for
Regional Chair of Sudbury in 1997. He picked up 13,000 votes
each time.
Although from the south, Mark has become a true Northerner.
His wife is from the north and their five children are born and
raised in the north. They love the people, the area and the
clean air.
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