Knowlton Nash, a name synonymous with Canadian journalism, dedicated his life to shaping the world of news broadcasting. For a decade, he stood at the helm of CBC Television’s flagship news program, The National, and gained a place in the hearts of many Canadians from coast to coast.
His steady voice, warm demeanour, and signature oversized glasses earned him a reputation as a trusted figure in Canadian journalism, and his career, which spanned multiple decades, was marked by groundbreaking moments and high-stakes stories.
Born Cyril Knowlton Nash in Toronto on Nov. 18, 1927, he was named after his father. At the age of five, Nash decided that he preferred to be known as Knowlton. At just eight years old, Nash sold his first newspaper and began producing his own newssheet.
His fascination with news continued to grow, and by the age of 10, he had already released multiple editions of his own weekly newspaper, which he sold for less than a nickel.
Nash took his first professional step into the world of journalism as a freelance reporter for The Globe and Mail, where he covered news related to politics, City Hall, and sports. In 1947, he joined the British United Press as a night editor, and over the next three years, lived in Toronto, Halifax, and Vancouver, where he became a writer and bureau chief for the wire service.
In 1951, he moved to Washington D.C. to serve as the information director for the International Federation of Agricultural Producers.
This job familiarized Nash with international events and took him all over the globe, including cities like Paris, Rome, Nairobi, and New York, where he represented the organization at the United Nations.
Following this, Nash became a Washington correspondent for the Financial Post in 1954 and continued to write articles about American politics for the Windsor Star, Vancouver Sun, and Halifax Herald.
Two years later, Nash began working as a freelance Washington correspondent for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). In 1961, he joined CBC’s Newsmagazine as their Washington correspondent, where he covered significant historical events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Bay of Pigs invasion, and the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy.
Nash’s illustrious career was defined by his boldness in pursuing momentous stories, including tracking down communist revolutionary Che Guevara for an exclusive, as well as being one of the last journalists to interview U.S. senator Robert F. Kennedy before his assassination.
Nash in 1963. Photo: CBC.
Throughout his career, Nash interviewed five U.S. Presidents, as well as seven Canadian and four British Prime Ministers. He even kept a cigarette case on his desk at the old CBC building in the 1980s — a gift from John F. Kennedy — which was given to every reporter who covered his 1960 campaign.
In 1969, Nash shifted gears when he became CBC TV’s director of information programs. In 1976, he was appointed the director of news and current affairs, making him responsible for broadcast journalism at the national and local levels.
Under Nash’s leadership, broadcast journalism saw more growth, and the CBC was able to launch several series that delved into the country’s heritage, including The National Dream and the broadcast memoirs of John Diefenbaker and Lester B. Pearson.
In 1978, Nash officially took over as chief correspondent for CBC’s English Television news, succeeding Peter Kent. His return to front-line journalism was marked by his thorough reports on a wide array of events, including Canadian and U.S. elections, the Quebec referendum, royal and papal visits to Canada, as well as the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
Nash on the set of The National. Photo: CBC.
Over time, Nash’s easygoing yet precise style earned him the affectionate nickname “Uncle Knowlty” from viewers, and it was exactly this connection that improved The National‘s ratings. In 1982, he led the program’s transition to a 10 p.m. timeslot, which was the same year he married CBC television personality Lorraine Thomson, whom he was married to for 32 years.
Nash was married four times in total and blamed the failure of his marriages on his dedication as a journalist.
Nash at the Eaton Centre in 1982. Photo: Boris Spremo/Toronto Star.
After a decade as the anchor of The National, Nash made the surprising decision to sign off from the role on April 29, 1988. The move paved the way for CBC national correspondent, Peter Mansbridge, to take over the anchor chair.
Still, Nash continued his career with the CBC, by staying with The National on weekends and producing documentaries for The Journal. Nash officially retired from daily television news broadcasting at the end of November 1992.
Peter Mansbridge and Knowlton Nash. Photo: CBC.
In recognition of his distinguished career, Nash received numerous accolades. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1988, and to the Order of Ontario in 1998.
He also received Honourary Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Toronto, University of Regina, Brock University, Loyalist College, and York University, as well as the President’s Award of the Radio-Television News Directors Association.
In 1995, Nash received the John Drainie Award “for distinguished contributions to broadcasting” and was inducted into the Canadian News Hall of Fame the following year. In 2006, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Journalism Foundation.
Nash also authored several books throughout his career, including “History on the Run: The Trenchcoat Memoirs of a Foreign Correspondent” (1984), “Prime Time at Ten: Behind-the-Camera Battles of Canadian TV Journalism” (1987), “Kennedy and Diefenbaker: Fear and Loathing across the Undefended Border” (1990), “Visions of Canada: Searching for Our Future” (1991), and “The Microphone Wars: A History of Triumph and Betrayal at the CBC” (1994).
On May 24, 2014, Nash passed away at the age of 86. His funeral, held in Toronto’s Forest Hill neighborhood, was attended by notable figures, including fellow broadcasters Peter Mansbridge and Lloyd Robertson.
Mansbridge, who succeeded Nash as anchor of The National, spoke fondly of his predecessor, saying that Nash “felt like family to his audience.”
Photo: CBC.
Nash’s influence on Canadian media continues to be felt today, and his legacy will persist not only in his work but in the countless people across the country who grew up watching him anchor the news every night.
