Gary Slaight

Gary Slaight was born in Edmonton, Alberta on February 15, 1951. He obtained a B.A. in English from the University of Western Ontario.

Gary began his career in 1973 as Media Estimator for McLaren Advertising. During the next two years, he held the position of Promotion Manager at both Quality Records and at WEA Records. From 1977 to 1982, he held several positions at a Toronto radio station, Q107, including Account Executive, Program Director and Vice-President and General Manager/Program Director.

Following this, Gary became President and Chief Executive Officer of Standard Radio Inc. in 1987 responsible for all of its radio stations, Integrated Media Sales and Source Source.

In 2000, Gary assumed his current position of President and Chief Executive Officer of the largest privately-owned multi-media company, Standard Broadcasting Corporation Limited which includes, besides broadcasting, a retail marketing services company. He continues to hold his position as President and Chief Executive Officer of Standard Radio Inc. which now has 51 radio stations and 2 television stations across the country. It has equity interest in Sirius Canada, Inc. (40%), Milestone Radio Inc. (30%), Haliburton Broadcasting Group Inc. (30%), and Martz Communications Group (25%); and owns a minority equity interest in Maplecore, Milestone Media and Puretracks, Inc.

Gary is actively involved in the industry and is a staunch supporter of Canadian music talent. Not only did he create the National Songwriting Contest as well as the Homegrown Contest, which is still running on stations across Canada, but he also created the Canadian Radio Music Awards. Gary was named Broadcast Executive of the Year in 1992, 1993, 1996 and 1998. In 2004, he received the Outstanding Community Service by an Individual Broadcaster award at the Canadian Association of Broadcasters.

He is currently on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Music Council, Sick Children's Hospital Foundation, Gilda's Club, Toronto's Walk of Fame, CARAS (Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences), Moontaxi and Maplemusic. He is also on the United Way Leadership Giving Committee.

Gary and his wife, Donna, have two daughters, Alison and Christina, and two dogs, Evlis and Tizzie. His hobbies include skiing, golf, squash, travelling and hanging with his family.