Veteran CBC Edmonton broadcaster signs off after 37 years | Daily Hive

CBC Edmonton

Mark Connolly, a longtime voice and face of CBC Edmonton and advocate for the city, is retiring today after 37 years with the organization.

Connolly first stepped into the CBC Edmonton building as a teenager, helping his dad with janitorial work. That early exposure sparked a lifelong interest in broadcasting. He would go on to enrol in NAIT’s radio and media production program, leaving early for a play-by-play job in Fort McMurray.

After working in private radio in Fort McMurray, Red Deer, and Edmonton, Connolly joined CBC Edmonton in 1988. He spent 22 years as a sports reporter before transitioning to news, co-hosting CBC Edmonton’s evening broadcast in 2010. In 2013, he took over Edmonton AM, which he hosted until his retirement.

Connolly covered 12 Olympic Games over the course of his career, along with the Commonwealth and Pan Am Games. He’s called the opportunity to cover the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta a “career-defining moment.”

But aside from sports, Connolly is well-known for his deep love of radio and the connection it gave him to the community.

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In the newsroom, Connolly was known for his generosity and belief in others, taking time to mentor new broadcasters. Beyond the CBC, he was a passionate supporter of kids’ sports charities, including Kids with Cancer, Free Play for Kids and KidSport, and helped thousands of children access organized sports.

Though he’s retiring, he’s not disappearing — he’ll call the Servus Edmonton Marathon and host a charity event in August. He’s looking forward to golf, family time, and whatever comes next, he told CBC.

What he’s most excited for, however, is finally sleeping in after years of waking up at 3:45 a.m. to host Edmonton AM.