Max Keeping
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Winston Maxwell Keeping, C.M. known as Max Keeping, is the Vice-President of news and public affairs at CJOH where he is also the long-time male anchor of the 6:00 p.m. local news broadcast. Keeping is a community leader and since the early 1970s one of the most famous public personalities in Ottawa, Canada.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
Keeping was born in Grand Bank, Newfoundland on April 1, 1942, and began his news career in the late 1950s. His early work was as sports director of the St. John's Evening Telegram, a post that he occupied at the age of 16. He then worked with the radio station VOCM and CJCH in Halifax.
Keeping moved to Ottawa in 1965, when he became a parliamentary reporter first for CFRA radio, and then for CTV news. He assumed his current role as news anchor of CJOH in 1972, making him one of the longest-serving 6 o'clock news anchors in North America.
Keeping returned to Newfoundland in the fall of 1972 to run as a Progressive Conservative in the October 30th federal election, in the riding of Burin—Burgeo. He came in second place behind the Liberal incumbent, Don Jamieson, with 25% of the vote. After the federal election, he returned to his former post at CJOH.
In his more than 40 years in Ottawa, Keeping has become a local celebrity. He has played an active role in many charitable drives, both through his news station, and outside. He is the long-time Master of Ceremonies of the CHEO telethon. It is estimated that he has participated in the collection of more that $100 million in charitable donations in the Ottawa area. This earned him a 2003 Gemini Humanitarian Award. Most recently Keeping accepted a Doctorate of the University degree from the University of Ottawa and an honorary post as Patron for the Learning for a Cause Institute[1] which publishes and promotes the creative writing of high school students.
In 2003, Keeping announced on-air that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. He has since made a full recovery.
[edit] Awards and notable achievements
- Member of the Order of Canada
- Recipient of the Ontario Medal of Good Citizenship
- Gemini award for broadcasting, 2004
- A new wing of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario was named in his honour
- Inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' Hall of Fame in 2004
- Hon. Mac Harb thanked Mr. Keeping for his contributions to the city of Ottawa in the House of Commons in 2001 [2]
- Presented with the key to the city of Ottawa
- Order of Ontario[1]
