Lloyd Robertson, the 'trusted' longtime voice of CTV National News, dead at 92
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Lloyd Robertson, the stoic and “trusted” voice of CTV National News for 35 years, has died at the age of 92.
The retired broadcaster’s family said he had passed away on Tuesday evening, according to CTV .
The Stratford, Ont., native made a career in broadcasting for nearly 60 years, beginning at the CJCS radio station in his hometown in 1952. He began working for CBC in Windsor in 1954 followed by time in Winnipeg and Ottawa before hosting The National in 1970.
After making a name for himself there, Robertson joined CTV National News as co-anchor with Harvey Kirck in 1976. When Kirck retired in 1984, he served as chief anchor and news editor until his final broadcast in 2011 and continued to co-host the W5 news magazine program until 2016.
‘Part of Canada’s geography’
Then-prime minister Stephen Harper said it was an “end of an era” when Robertson stepped down as anchor, passing the baton to Lisa LaFlamme.
“You’ve been delivering the news since I was barely more than a boy,” Harper said at the time, via CTV News . “You’ve been doing it for so long and so authoritatively, you’ve almost become a part of Canada’s geography and I know that Canadians from coast to coast are going to miss you.”
Robertson and his signature send-off — “And that’s the kind of day it’s been” — helped guide Canadian viewers through some of biggest moments of the last half-century, including 9/11, the Gulf War and the Terry Fox Run. He also covered the Quebec Referendum, 14 federal elections and nine Olympic Games.
He became a member of the Order of Canada in 1998 and was the first journalist inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2007.
“Lloyd left an indelible mark on both CTV News and Canadian journalism,” Bell Media vice-president of news Richard Gray said in a news release. “Throughout his illustrious career, he forged a genuine bond with viewers, becoming a reassuring voice while reporting on some of the biggest events happening across Canada and around the world.
“To those who worked alongside him, Lloyd was a valued mentor and friend. His enduring legacy continues through the standards and values he established at CTV News and he will be deeply missed by all.”
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‘No one like Lloyd’
Toronto Centre MP Evan Solomon, who hosted Power Play and Question Period on CTV during his time in broadcasting, said “there was no one like Lloyd.
There was no one like Lloyd. He was the consummate journalist and broadcaster, always hardworking, fearless and fair. I once asked him for his advice, and what made his CTV newscast so trusted and popular. He said his motto was always: “be first and be friendly.” He was both. He… https://t.co/mcA438xMX7
— Evan Solomon (@EvanLSolomon) August 5, 2026
“He was the consummate journalist and broadcaster, always hardworking, fearless and fair,” Solomon said in a social media post. “I once asked him for his advice and what made his CTV newscast so trusted and popular. He said his motto was always: ‘Be first and be friendly.’ He was both.
“He was also trusted. He was a mentor to many and a true friend to the country. RIP to the ultimate broadcaster, a leader and a gentleman.”
Avery Haines, the host and managing editor of W5 , said in a Facebook post that, “We lost one of the good ones today.
“Rest in Peace Lloyd Robertson,” the caption said, accompanied by a photo of Haines and Robertson sitting together.