Year Born: 1941
Year of Induction: 2005
Member of CAB Hall of Fame
Beaulne, Paul-Emile (1941- )
Paul-Émile Beaulne’s broadcasting career began in 1960 in an administrative position at Societé Radio-Canada in Montreal. In 1966, he was hired by radio station CJMS as an advertising copywriter. He moved on to become an assistant to the Program Director and finally, the Director of Public Affairs Programming, before being promoted to the position of Program Director, in charge of the launch of radio station CJRC in Ottawa. In 1967, he returned to CJMS in Montreal, but this time, as the Program Director.
In 1971, he became Executive Vice-President of the Télémédia group of AM radio stations, in addition to being the General Manager of CKAC, where he rejuvenated the station’s offerings. Over the next 14 years, Paul-Émile would develop the first AM news network in the Province of Quebec, and would break new ground by broadcasting the news 15 minutes before the hour. He would also launch several new radio formats, including the very popular Festival de l’humour.
In 1985, along with Normand Beauchamp, he became co-owner of Radiomutuel, where he held the position of Executive Vice-President of the AM radio division until the company was sold to Astral Média inc. in 1999.
From 1988 to 2000, he was a member of the Board of Directors, of the executive committee and in charge of operations at the specialty TV stations MusiquePlus and MusiMax.
Between 1995 and 2000, in addition to managing the Radiomutuel AM stations, he created and launched two speciality TV channels, Canal Vie and Canal Z. He also participated actively in the creation of Radiomédia, arising out of the merger of CKAC and CJMS. He then became the new entity’s first President.
Paul-Émile Beaulne has received numerous tributes over his prestigious career, including the Grand Prix Broadcasting Award from the Association canadienne de la radio et de la télévision de langue française (ACRTF) in 1990, the HÉC Montréal Builder’s Award in 1993, an Honorary Award from the Association du disque, de l’industrie du spectacle québécois et de la vidéo (ADISQ) in 1998, and the CAB Gold Ribbon Award for Excellence in Broadcasting, in 1999.
Paul-Émile Beaulne was inducted as a member of the CAB Hall of Fame in 2005
Written by Yvon Chouinard – October, 2005