Susan making a 25 Year Honouree Presentation
at the CBC 20 Year Association Christmas Party on December 6, 2005.
October 20, 2006
Susan Englebert
It is with heavy hearts that we tell you that a true CBC Radio champion and very dear
friend, Susan Englebert, died peacefully last night while at her home in Victoria with her
closest friends and her brother by her side.
Susan was truly an inspirational leader who, in her more than 30 years with CBC Radio,
established herself as a thoughtful mentor, brave visionary and gifted programmer - one
whose sense of what makes great radio was unparalleled. Above all, her lasting legacy will
be one of possessing two rare qualities: courage and creativity. These qualities were
evident in everything Susan did, both inside the CBC and in her personal life.
Susan began her career with CBC Radio as a production assistant on The Great Canadian
Gold Rush in the 1960s. When she retired in May of 2002, she was Head of CBC Radio 3
and New Media. Her journey along the way was most impressive. Susan's remarkable
strengths as a programmer - evident from her involvement in the creation, development
and production of such shows as The Great Canadian Gold Rush with Terry David
Mulligan, Variety Tonight with Vicki Gabereau, Gabereau and Double Exposure - led to
her appointment as Regional Director of Radio for CBC British Columbia in the early
'90s, and then Head of Radio Music and Associate Program Director of CBC Stereo
(as CBC Radio Two was then known). In this role, she collaborated in
the creation of programs such as After Hours, Sound Advice, OnStage at
Glenn Gould and Vinyl Café.
In 1995 Susan returned to her home province of British Columbia to again become
Regional Director for B.C. In 2000, she was appointed Head of Radio 3 and New Media,
where she designed a CBC Radio service for young Canadians. Well known and admired
for fostering new talents and exploring new ways to serve our audiences, Susan
brought tremendous vision to the Radio 3 project - which has evolved into the
award-winning online, on-air and satellite radio offering we call Radio 3 today.
However, Susan's contribution to the CBC went far beyond her titles and
job descriptions. She loved the CBC and she was passionate about what it
stands for. She had great admiration for the people who create our programs,
and nurtured and cared for them as if they were members of her own family.
Through her wisdom about programming and her ability to look in to the future
of media and technology, her willingness to take risks and her track record in
attracting new, bright talent into CBC Radio, she inspired us to strive for
innovation, uniqueness and quality in our work, and to recognize its value to
Canadians everywhere.
There will be a gathering of close friends and family at Susan's home on Wednesday at
noon. In lieu of flowers, donations in Susan's name may be made to the charity of
your choice.
We will all miss Susan. We can only be thankful that, for too short a time, we
benefited from her integrity, passion and strength, her sense of adventure and her
compassion. We were privileged to be among those she held closest to her heart.
Jane Chalmers Joan Andersen
Vice-President Regional Director of English Radio
CBC Radio CBC British Columbia