Dolphin, Frank
After being raised on the radio version of Hockey Night in Canada, Frank decided he wanted a career in broadcasting. His first job was at CJCA in 1952, writing commercials and radio shows. After about four years, he moved to CKUA as an announcer-operator. CHED opened within a year and Frank accepted an offer to join the news department.
He moved to the CBC when the TV station opened in 1961, doing news reporting and documentaries until 1965. After eight years of using his reporting talents at the Western Catholic Reporter, Frank returned to CBC news, mainly covering the Alberta Legislature.
He worked as a radio and TV news reporter, for the most part covering city and provincial politics, and also as a documentary reporter and producer.
After retiring from the CBC Frank continued to freelance for CBC Radio. He also has written five books about Alberta historical figures and organizations, including a history of the Alberta Legislature.
He found the most interesting aspect of his broadcasting career was being on the scene when events were happening. Such occasions included the visit of Pope John Paul 2 to Edmonton, travelling down the Mackenzie River on a tugboat to film a documentary, and chatting with fascinating people, including the Queen Mother.
Among the lighter moments of his coverage of provincial politics was when Frank went to Montana with a cameraman to report on a meeting between Premier Peter Lougheed and a group of American State Governors. When the premier climbed down from his plane Frank started asking questions about the upcoming meeting. Lougheed smiled and shot back “Dolphin, can’t I go anywhere that you’re not there”?
filed 2006
