by Brett Bradshaw
the Carillon

A little boy wrote in after I had open heart surgery. He had heard that and said to his mother, 'Mommy, when I go to bed tonight can I say a prayer for Johnny?'

Johnny Sandison is a self-proclaimed ³Regina guy.²

Born and raised in Regina, he joined the navy at 17, following in his fatherıs footsteps to become a member of the Regina Fire Department.

At one time Sandison also played in a band before he went on to pursue his true love: ³I did everything little boys dream of.²

Sandison is often recognized as a witness of the Regina Riots in 1935.

The Sandison family was in the Grand Theatre when they heard people on the roof. They witnessed the beatings that resulted in the death of one RCMP officer and injuries to dozen others, and rushed home with all the windows broken in the car.

The Riots began as ³an on to Ottawa Strike.² The unemployed were coming across Canada on the railway to charge the Ottawa government to release money for the unemployed in the West.

³It was much like the farmer situation today.²

The strikers stopped in Regina and stayed at the Exhibition Grounds. A meeting was held in Market Square to discuss what their plan of action was for Ottawa. However, the government decided to intervene in Regina and thus began the riots. The RCMP on horseback and the Regina City Police in trucks broke up the men with clubs and tear gas. They beat them and the rioters fought back.

³The riots left a big black mark on Regina.²

Sandison was a ³radio brat,² he grew up in the pre-television era of the 1930s. Ever since he can remember, Sandison knew he wanted to be on radio.

³I went to bed at night with a little plastic radio.... I was infatuated with the voices I heard.²

Sandison was discovered when he auditioned for a show called the Firefighters on CKRM. They wanted an actual firefighter to play the role of ŒFireman Dan.ı He read well and was approached by Bob Hill of CKRM and asked if he had ever thought of getting into radio. Sandison described thinking, ³Thought!...My guardian angel has just arrived.²

When he began his career in 1953, the thing that struck him the most was the way people would stop him on the street and say ŒI heard you last nightı. He was even made an honorary chief - Chief Weather Voice. ³That shows you how powerful that little box that voices come out of can be to people.²

It was the rewards of reaching and dealing with people that kept Sandison in the business for 46 years, despite the fact that his starting wage was only $135 a month.

³Nobody got into it for the money, Iım not sure they do today either.²

Radio at that time was very people-oriented. Sandison says the goal of radio was to supply the community with information and entertain them through special programming such as childrenıs programs and talk shows, as opposed to todayıs musical focus.

³Nothing happened in the city back then that radio didnıt know about...we went in and declared it.²

Sandison called himself the ŒMorning Mayorı on CK radio, a title he held for 26 years. Although Sandison was unsure about television coming to Regina he went on to have successful career at CKCK as well.

³None of us knew what television would mean, we didnıt have a clue.²

Besides being a weatherman, Johnny also landed his own show that he shared with various co-hosts periodically, titled Eye On Saskatchewan. Along with the producer, Sandison selected the guests for the show.

³It was a wonderful opportunity to interview people.²

The guest varied from prime ministers to other broadcasters such as Knowlton Nash. Sandison did a particularly memorable show with two AIDS victims. Sandison explained that the interviews were factual and informative.

³Attacking and being the hot-tempered , pounding-of-the-desk style reporter seldom works. If you look at the greatest broadcasters, itıs usually the guys who know what they are talking about and present it in a worthwhile and intelligent manner that get a lot more out of people.²

Sandison sites one example as his interview with William Christopher of M.A.S.H. fame. He was conducting a laid back interview when Christopher really opened up. He told Sandison of his desire to do work to further help autism research because he himself had an autistic child.

Unfortunately, there is not a talk show that parallels Eye on Saskatchewan today. ³We were a great 60 minutes, I thoroughly enjoyed it, then they changed it.²

It was a collection of changes and a feeling that he had been in it long enough that prompted Sandison to retire three years ago.

Two changes have been the most visible for Sandison. One is the presence of women in broadcasting. ³They said women would never be in news because they didnıt have a voice of authority, and just look how thatıs changed.²

The other change is a tremendous increase in the use of computer technology. As a result of these technological advancements there has been a direct loss of people in his profession.

³Itıs happening everywhere...In television and radio the machines are taking over, the networks have taken over, and I think the abundance of America on our TV, has taken over.²

Sandison perceives this Americanization crowding attitudes everywhere.

³I think Canadians are still suffering from the attitude, Œgee that was pretty good, considering it was Canadian.ı What does that mean to our young people? Weıve got some of the greatest of everything in this country.²

³It means that I served in World War Two at sea, that I had a chance to prevent Adolph Hitler from winning; does this generation realize what life would be like if he had? It means Terry Fox, Wayne Gretzky, it means giving the right to Quebec to make all the noise they want as Canadians. If it isnıt down there Mr.Bouchard - fix it, and then come on in with the rest of the family.²

³The one thing I donıt like television for today, is when an airplane crashes, when a princess dies...get the hell out of there.²

He does not agree with the way media keep pounding the same information day after day.

³There is a lot of material out there, there is no need to do that. But the answer I get from the executive heads is ŒJohnny we are counting the numbersı .³

Sandison believes that maybe too much importance is placed on the demographics. Executives cater to age group of 18 to 35, and disregard other existing audiences.

In addition, Sandison felt that the music left him behind. ³It would look silly for me to say Œthis is cool,ı when I donıt even know what it is about. That was part of it, the whole system was changing.²

Sandison predicts a continued decrease in television and radio studios. He sees future journalists and broadcasters being integrated into corporations such as Imperial Oil and Air Canada.

³You will go into the corporations and government and find just as many jobs, maybe more lucrative and satisfying than on the air, because I donıt think there is going to be that many people actually broadcasting.²

Sandison has used his voice in many other ways as well. Throughout his career he has been very involved in many fundraising events and public service organizations.

He recalls playing a role in the first Telemiracle. ³I can remember sitting at CKCK and somebody saying, Œa million dollars - weıll never do that again, we are not Jerry Lewisı .²

Sandison continues to do telethons for organizations like the Roughriders and the Hospital Foundation. He is also a member of the St. John Ambulance and the Core Commissioners security organization.

His most prominent project at the moment is participating as a board member and as a teacher at the Adult Learning Center.

³Of all the things I have been doing [as] public service in Regina, this probably means the most.²

The center has been running for nine years and consists of male and female students who are aiming to complete their grade 12. A dress code and salary are a part of the program.

Sandison claims that 90% of the students graduate and a high percentage further their education.

³All of a sudden they come to and realize that they are going to be nowhere if they donıt get an education.²

When Sandison hears the potential students stand up and tell their reasons for needing to be in the program, itıs a big wake-up call for him. ³Itıs a different part of Regina that most of us donıt know.²

When asked why he has chosen to stay in Regina all these years, Sandison answers, ³My family is here. Where else I would I go? I like Regina, and if I can continue to be involved in programs like the Adult Learning Center maybe I can keep Regina where I think it should be.²

Perhaps Sandisonıs greatest accomplishment was receiving the Order of Canada in 1977 for his time navy, his broadcasting career, and his years of public service.

The impact he has made on the community is evident in a passage he selected for his book, Hi, Iım Johnny Sandison.

³A little boy wrote in after I had had open heart surgery. He had heard that and said to his mother, ŒMommy when I go to bed tonight can I say a prayer for Johnny?ı And that made me cry.²

As Sandison sits in his den which he has surrounded with pivotal pictures from his career he reflects, ³There are so many things I have enjoyed, Iıve had a good mix. I have been very happy.²