Agribition's longest serving agricultural news reporter recognized
On Friday, Canadian Western Agribition recognized its longest serving farm news reporter, Jim Smalley.
Smalley, who plans to retire next year, has been covering Agribition since 1975. The show has its newsroom facility in its honour.
“I never expected them to change the name of the newsroom to the Jim Smalley newsroom,” he said.
Smalley was also named an Agribition shareholder for his 40 years of farm news coverage on CKRM, which makes him an official member of the Agribition family.
“And they always felt he was part of the family because he was always there, I mean every Agribition since ‘75, Jim Smalley’s been there,” said Andrew Dawson, CKRM’s news director.
Jim Smalley first covered Agribition for CKCK Radio and television in the 1970s before moving to CKRM. His loyal following includes the province’s agriculture minister.
“I had the privilege of being interviewed by Jim many times and very professional and obviously agriculture is very near and dear to his heart,” said David Marit, minister of agriculture.
Those closely involved with Agribition say Jim Smalley knows the industry well.
“He had that passion and dedication for agriculture. He understood what was going in at Agribition,” said Art Unsworth, stock dog competition announcer.
Smalley was deeply moved by all the recognition.
“It’s an incredible honour,” he said “I am just so honoured to be here. It was just beyond description.”
This was Jim Smalley’s final Agribition as a reporter but he will stay on the air for a few months longer. He plans to retire next year, his 50th anniversary in broadcasting.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
BREAKING McGill University seeks emergency injunction to remove pro-Palestinian encampment from campus
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.