‘I was speechless’: Beloved radio host Bruce Wylie honoured by Brockville Chamber
A rare honour was bestowed upon a beloved local Brockville celebrity this week.
At the Brockville & District Chamber of Commerce Awards of Excellence Gala this week, longtime radio host Bruce Wylie was announced as the ninth recipient of the President’s Award.
The 65th annual awards gala took place at the Brockville Country Club on Thursday, Sept. 19, where many professionals in the local community were acknowledged and celebrated for their success and influence.
Steve Latimer, The President of the Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce, announced Wylie as the recipient of this year’s President’s Award in July. Founded in 2009, the President’s Award is an optional award that is decided on by the Chamber President if they believe someone is deserving.
In the 15 years since its inception, only nine people, including Wylie, have been selected for this award.
Wylie told Brockvilleist he was completely surprised when he was told on-air of his own show that he had been selected for this award.
“I usually talk with the Chamber every Thursday morning and I had Steve Latimer on as a guest and he said he was going to announce the President’s Award. I was speechless when he said ‘It’s you!’”
Those who live in Brockville will surely recognize Wylie’s voice, even if they do not recognize his face. The veteran radio host started his career with CFJR in 1971, and has become a familiar and consistent voice every morning on Move 104.9.
Wylie has been recognized once before by the Brockville Chamber of Commerce in 1989 as Citizen of the Year. When asked how he enjoyed this year’s awards ceremony at the new venue, he shared, “The gala was a great night. It was really well done and I think the Country Club is a better place for it. Everything moved really smoothly and the Chamber did a great job.”
Wylie shared that he plans on displaying his new award alongside his Canadian Broadcaster of the Year award that he received in 1999 for his coverage of the 1998 ice storm. These three awards are the highest honours of his career thus far, and he hopes to donate them to the Brockville museum upon his retirement.