Lloyd Robertson was the same 'lovely, genuine human being' people saw on TV, says CTV's Sandie Rinaldo

Lloyd Robertson was the same 'lovely, genuine human being' people saw on TV, says CTV's Sandie Rinaldo

Robertson, veteran Canadian journalist and news anchor, dies at 92

When Lloyd Robertson joined CTV News 50 years ago, Sandie Rinaldo says it changed her life forever.

Rinaldo was a producer at CTV News in 1976 when Robertson left his longtime role as anchor of CBC's The National to join the fledgling station.

With Robertson at the helm, CTV News grew from a small upstart to a media powerhouse. And Rinaldo gained a lifelong colleague, mentor and friend.

Robertson, a veteran Canadian broadcaster and journalist, died on Tuesday at the age of 92.

Rinaldo, now the anchor of CTV National News at 5:30, still remembers the first time she met Robertson. She spoke with As It Happens guest host Rebecca Zandbergen about that day, and the decades that followed.

Here is part of their conversation.

What was it like when he walked in the door?

There were rumours circulating that something big was going to happen. And Don Cameron, who was then vice-president of news, was smiling like the cat who'd just eaten the fish. And he couldn't wait to share the information, but wasn't going to let it out until it was definitely the time for him to release it publicly.

So I was hovering nearby and out of the office walks this very handsome 40-something man with that large booming voice. And he introduced himself: "I'm Lloyd Robertson."

And, oh my God, this is a man I'd idolized, watched on television … and here he was, coming to CTV.

It was a huge moment for us because … CTV News was a little upstart at that time … and with Lloyd came huge credibility and standing.

The story goes he left CBC because he wanted to do reporting and CBC said: No that's not the anchor's job. And CTV had said: OK, we'll let you be the anchor and you can also report. Why was that an important moment in his career?

Way back then in the ’60s and ’70s, the anchors were essentially there to just read whatever copy was put in front of them. And Lloyd was a journalist. He was a thinker. He was a man of the people and he also wanted to be engaged and intrinsically involved in the decision-making.

I know things have changed at CBC. I think perhaps Lloyd's departure was the turning point. But he came over to CTV and became not just chief anchor, but senior news editor as well, and was very instrumental in the decisions and … the story selections every single day.

It certainly changed things for all of us.

Lloyd Robertson: from CBC to CTV

What did you learn from Lloyd over the years?

When he went out to speak to organizations and to groups, he was the diplomat. He was very much the man who represented the organization. And what comes with that is a huge responsibility, but also a keen understanding that you're not just speaking to your peers, your contemporaries, but you're also speaking to the audience that puts trust in us. And for me, that's been a valuable lesson going forward. I always hold that concept steadfast.

When you look back at your time working with Lloyd, is there one story that takes you back that you really hold up as a memory you'll always hold dear?

The standout for me … was the morning of 9-11. I was a guest, a panellist, on Canada AM, when the planes struck the World Trade Towers, both buildings.

Lloyd was called immediately and we filled in on air until he arrived at the studio, which was about 9:45, not too long afterwards. He lived close by and did that intentionally so he'd be available to come in at a moment's notice if necessary.

And I felt a huge sigh of relief that it was Lloyd who was going to be there at the anchor desk from the beginning until the end of the day. And it stretched on for more than 14, 15, 16 hours until he signed off for the night.

Even though it was a horrible day, a terrible day, he made it easier for us to watch because he was the calming father, grandfather, uncle who talked us through what was going on and made us think, well, maybe things will eventually settle and be OK. That's the memory that stays with me.

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We've talked a lot about the kind of professional colleague he was, but I know he was a dear friend as well. What will you miss about him?

He was the kind of person who looked you in the face and made you feel that you're the most important person in the world to him. And I know that that's a rare thing to happen in this business.

In particular, I treasure the fact that we were friends. In addition to being colleagues, we were friends.

I tell the story of how, in the years that he anchored Monday to Friday and I was Saturday and Sunday, people would say they tuned into CTV News to watch Lloyd and Sandie. And viewers would often comment that they thought we were actually married. We were kind of Mr. and Mrs. CTV News. And I love that because what it speaks to is the fact that Lloyd was able to reach out and mean something to people who would tune in and watch him work.

Television is a very intimate medium. You know, it shows you up close. On radio, it's the voice that matters and the connection you give to people through your voice. But on television, the camera doesn't lie. And so what you saw with Lloyd on camera is what it was like behind the scenes — a wonderful, lovely, genuine human being who really cared about the people he worked with.

Interview produced by Nishat Chowdhury. Q&A edited for length and clarity