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Friday, September 17, 2010

CBC loses one of its best

Veteran radio host Costas Halavrezos calls it quits

Posted by Bruce Wark on Fri, Sep 17, 2010 at 1:16 PM

Costas Halavrezos

Costas Halavrezos bade listeners farewell today after 23 years as host of Maritime Noon. The 62-year-old broadcaster is taking early retirement.

His last show came about a year-and-half after CBC gutted the popular noon-hour radio program to divert more resources to an expanded, but dumbed-down TV supperhour show. Maritime Noon lost half of its air time — its one-hour current affairs segment disappeared along with the jobs of four full-time journalists who served mainly as regional correspondents from New Brunswick, PEI and Cape Breton.

True to form, the self-effacing Halavrezos did not express any bitterness as he ended his last program, although he did say he hoped younger journalists would continue to have the opportunity to serve CBC audiences.

"Now as listeners, you've noticed I play my personal cards close to my chest," Halavrezos said as he implicitly contrasted his professional style with some of his ego-driven CBC colleagues. "I don't tell cute family anecdotes or talk about my favourite sports teams or what I had for breakfast, because I believe every second of broadcast time is precious, and well, the majority of you don't get to communicate with other Maritimers every day like I do, so it's best if I stay out of the way and free up the space."

Halavrezos starting working for the CBC as a freelancer in the mid 1970s and later served as a producer before becoming an on-air host in 1982. He joined Maritime Noon in 1987. Over the years he has appeared as guest host on national CBC radio programs including Cross Country Checkup and As It Happens.

Listeners and colleagues praised him today as an unflappable host whose interviews and stories contributed to public knowledge. Listener Frank Armstrong from Maitland Bridge, Nova Scotia said Halavrezos had been a noon-hour companion for years.

"I listen to you on my lunch times at work every day," Armstrong said. "You've contributed a lot to the fabric of life here in rural Nova Scotia, so I'm really sorry to see you go."

Tags: CBC Radio, Maritime Noon, Costas Halavrezos

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Comments (7)

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This is a sad day for Atlantic Canadians and for the CBC. Costas you deserve all the happiness retirement can offer. Thank you for all the years of unflappable service.

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Posted by Jeff on 02/07/2011 at 5:42 PM

Costas made it easy to overcome any misgivings one might have about phoning in to his program. He introduced and maintained for 23 years a program that brought a lot of us together as Maritimers with ideas to share. I have grown accustomed to his "way" and I miss him.
Robert Ross

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Posted by ross7677 on 11/05/2010 at 12:40 PM

I have enjoyed his program for the past 5 years. I work virtually from home in Minnesota and have the CBC on all day long. I enjoy traveling to Atlantic Canada and in particular, Cape Breton. As I listened to Maritime Noon I enjoyed hearing real interactions with real people and expert advice. I felt like I was there.

Good luck Costas!

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Posted by Ron Trosvig on 09/27/2010 at 6:23 PM

I haven't been this emotionally affected since Rube Hornstein retired in '81.

Just kidding, I liked Rube, and I liked Costas. Too bad, but careers do come to an end.

Now if only a certain other network would get a clue and snip the career of a certain squat toad whose first name rhymes with Peeve.