The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) is pleased to announce broadcasting pioneer Fred Sherratt as the recipient of the 2009 Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award. The Award recognizes an outstanding individual who has contributed to the growth and advancement of the Canadian music industry.
Earlier this year, CARAS and CTVglobemedia jointly established annual music scholarships named after Fred Sherratt. The MusiCounts Fred Sherratt Awards were given out to 11 outstanding post-secondary graduates of Canadian music education programs. Sherratt is perhaps best known as the former Vice Chair and Chief Operating Officer of CHUM Limited and is credited for helping to build the organization into one of Canada’s leading media conglomerates.
Fred Sherratt’s significant contributions to the broadcasting industry have garnered him recognition and numerous awards over his distinguished career. In 2008, Sherratt became the inaugural recipient of the Ontario Association of Broadcasters Lifetime Achievement Award and was inducted to the Broadcast Hall of Fame in 1995 by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters. He has also been awarded the CAB Distinguished Service Gold Ribbon Award in 1984, and in 1993 received the Ted Rogers Senior/Velma Rogers Graham Award for his pioneering spirit and contributions to the broadcasting system.
Sherratt began his broadcasting career in 1948 as an announcer in Truro, Nova Scotia, before moving to Ontario to work in the broadcasting division of the Thomson newspapers. In 1956, he co-founded and launched a brand new radio station in Simcoe, Ontario, AM 1560 CFRS. By 1960, Sherratt became associated with CHUM Limited operating its newly acquired station, CKPT in Peterborough, ON.
He returned to Nova Scotia in 1965 when CHUM Limited acquired CJCH Radio Halifax.
In 1969, he was appointed Vice President Programming and Operations and a Director of CHUM Limited and moved to Toronto.
In 1971, Sherratt partnered with CHUM Limited and a group of Nova Scotia investors to purchase CJCH-TV, which he subsequently developed into the Atlantic Television System (ATV). After a decade of building the brand, ATV launched the Atlantic Satellite Network (ASN), the first advertiser-supported, satellite-delivered television service of its kind that essentially operated without any broadcast transmitters. ASN also served as the Educational Television Service in Atlantic Canada through a unique public/private partnership of universities, governments and CHUM. Sherratt continued to work as a Director of CTV Television Network Limited during the years that CHUM owned ATV.
After nearly four decades since becoming involved with CHUM Limited, Sherratt retired from his role as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in September 2000 when he was appointed Vice Chair of the company, a position he held for three years.
Sherratt continues to actively participate in industry affairs and has served on the boards and committees of most major broadcasting associations in Canada. He was a Director and member of the Executive Committee of Canadian Association of Broadcasters as well as the Television Bureau of Canada, and served a three-year term as Chairman of the Board of BBM, Bureau of Broadcast Measurement.
He was also a Director of Balmur Entertainment Ltd., founded by Canadian songbird Anne Murray, overseeing its music television properties, song catalogue and record production activities. Sherratt currently serves on the Board of Governors of Trent University.