1909–1968
York Cemetery
Section M Lot 242
Born in Tottenham, Ont., Wes McKnight became a trailblazer in Canadian sports broadcasting. After graduating from the University of Toronto, he began his career at CJYC in 1926, later moving to CKGW and then CFRB Toronto in 1928, where he was appointed sports director. McKnight quickly recognized the power of radio to engage sports fans and went on to become Canada’s first regular sports commentator, opening his broadcasts with the trademark greeting: “How do you do, everybody?”
In 1930, he made history by announcing CFRB’s live coverage of the British airship R100 over Toronto, an extraordinary feat for its time. McKnight’s versatility was unmatched: he called his first King’s Plate horse race at 18, started live golf coverage and hosted Canada’s first sports talk show, Sportsviews, sponsored by Bee Hive Corn Syrup, a partnership that lasted 40 years. He was also a charter member of Maple Leaf Gardens’ original Hot Stove League.
McKnight’s voice became synonymous with Canadian sports. He provided play-by-play for the Toronto Argonauts and Grey Cup games for three decades, and was one of the original hosts of Hockey Night in Canada, helping cement hockey as a national tradition. Off-air, he served as CFRB’s program director, station manager and later vice-president.
McKnight revolutionized sports broadcasting by introducing conversational commentary and live interviews, setting the standard for modern play-by-play and sports talk formats. His innovative approach made sports coverage more personal and engaging, inspiring generations of Canadian broadcasters. Inducted into both the Hockey and Canadian Football Halls of Fame, McKnight retired in 1966 and passed away in Toronto in 1968. His legacy lives on as the voice that brought Canadian sports into living rooms nationwide.
Sources:
• Wikipedia – Wes McKnight
• The History of Canadian Broadcasting – Wes McKnight Biography
• Canadian Football Hall of Fame – Wes McKnight
Photo: Postcard of the opening night ceremony of Maple Leaf Gardens (Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Chicago Black Hawks) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Postcard image is a reproduction of a photograph published in The Mail and Empire on November 11, 1931. This image is available from Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec under the reference number P547S1SS1SSS8D0001P1002R. Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
