Rose Kingdon, a trailblazer for black women in Canadian broadcasting, died recently in her home in Toronto. Just last week she turned 65. Kingdon had a hell of a run for over four decades. Her 38 years at the helm of The Canadian Press (CP) and her legacy in the industry have had a tremendous influence on journalism. Her death marks the end of an era for many in the industry. Her spirit will always reminisce on her passion and commitment to storytelling.
Born and raised in southwestern Ontario, Kingdon started her broadcasting career over 40 years ago. She would later fondly refer to it as “love at first on air light.” Her initial foray into radio began at CKLA, in Guelph. She honed her craft and was bitten by the radio bug, setting the stage for a prolific career. Following that, Kingdon went to CKEY in Toronto, then joined Broadcast News, a division of The Canadian Press.
Perhaps the most salient aspect of Kingdon’s tenure at CP was her genuine commitment to strong, high quality journalism. She went on to direct Broadcast News, changing the tenor of the network’s coverage. In the process, she became a mentor to thousands of young journalists. Her proudest accomplishment was to see them go as they found their own way, building their own careers as professional journalists.
In August 2003, Kingdon demonstrated her deep commitment and singular resolve during an extraordinary crisis. A cascading failure threw 55 million people into darkness as a massive blackout spread across Ontario and the northeastern US. Kingdon dedicated 36 hours of the CP home office, keeping our news and analysis accurate and timely during this pivotal moment.
During personal reflection time, her colleagues were focused on loving memories of her sharp wit and uncompromising standards. Huebert, her fellow broadcaster, said that’s what made her special—she knew how to find soundbites that crystallized the main point of a story.
“She had an ear for that … one clip, that one thing that everybody would be talking about, that would sum up a story.” – Huebert
Kingdon’s humor, too, set her apart from her peers. Rebot’s view of the world was both brutal and funny, and she regularly had people doubled over in laughter with her take on things.
“She looked at life in a really funny way — just very stark and blatant, but with humour that would just have you laughing.” – Rebot
Her love for broadcasting, and the brilliance she brought with it, never left her. Kingdon expressed gratitude for the opportunities she received to “make great radio” and “cover some of the biggest stories of our time.”
“I’ve always tried to give my best to this job, but it has certainly given back to me.” – Kingdon
Kingdon’s commitment to the craft was unyielding. In commenting on the honor, Huebert said she goes to work every day with the goal of exceeding excellent journalistic standards.
“She did her utmost every single day, 100 per cent, to make sure that those standards were being met.” – Huebert
As a testament to a lifetime of achievements, she was honored with the US Water Prize’s lifetime achievement award in 2023. Her colleagues remembered her legacy as one of deep influence within the industry. Fellow CP educator Andrea Baillie discussed Kingdon’s commitment to CP, saying, “
“Her dedication to CP was second to none.” – Andrea Baillie
As news of her passing spreads, many remember Kingdon not just as a colleague but as a mentor who opened doors for aspiring journalists. Her unusual approach to storytelling garnered the attention of her audiences and her colleagues.
“You would be in the newsroom and something would happen, and she would give you her take on it, and people would be killing themselves laughing.” – Huebert
