Before Lloyd Robertson was one of the most well-known faces of CTV News, he was a boy growing up in Stratford, Ont. The community was in mourning on Wednesday, following the news Tuesday evening that the man who was once CTV News’ chief anchor had died at the age of 92. IN PICTURES: Lloyd Robertson’s legendary career His career began in 1952 when he began working at CJCS, a radio station in Stratford. Once he graduated high school, he continued working there until he eventually made the move to CJOY in Guelph. Eventually he’d take a job with CBC and leave the orbit of his hometown enroute to a storied career that included years as a national news anchor at both CBC and CTV. But he never forgot his roots, and even sent a video to help CTV News Kitchener celebrate its 70th anniversary. “I had worked with some of [CKCO’s] early personalities,” Robertson recalled. “As my career took me across the country, Windsor, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Toronto, I always looked for that spot on the TV remote where I could find CTV News Kitchener because it brought news from the homefront.” His final broadcast was on Sept. 1, 2011. A Stratford celebrity Just as Robertson never forgot his hometown, Stratford has never forgotten the little boy they once knew as Lloyd. People walking along Ontario Street may notice a bronze star pressed into the sidewalk with Robertson’s name on it. It now sits in front of Bradshaws, but that was once home the CJCS. “Even though he was at the top of the game in media, he just remained this humble human being. He always said he was from Stratford and he had those Stratford roots,” Paul Cluff, news director at Southern Ontario Vista Radio, said. The radio station still pays tribute to him. One of the rooms is called “The Lloyd Robertson Newsroom.” “So, everybody that walks through is reminded that Lloyd started here, and that kind of sets the bar. When you start your day, you walk through the doors and you Lloyd’s name up there and you say, ‘OK. Let’s get it done.” The Festival City never seemed to be far from his thoughts. “Every time I talked to him, he always asked about our Stratford,” John Nater, Member of Parliament for Perth-Wellington, recalled. “He wanted to know what was happening in his hometown. A remarkable number of memories he would share about growing up in this community, his wife growing up in this community, the impact of the community growing up.” During the pandemic, Nater held online storytimes. “I randomly called up Lloyd and said, ‘Lloyd, would you be willing to read a kid’s story online? And he immediately said yes. We did a Zoom call. He read this wonderful story for us, providing commentary as the story went through and just had this wonderful message to community of Stratford, to Perth County and everyone who knew him. Just a remarkable guy,” Nater said. Community advocate Robertson was also known for what he did when the cameras weren’t rolling. “I would see [Robertson and his wife] regularly when they were in town,” Dan Mathieson, the former Mayor of Stratford, said. “They were the patron of Summer Music. Of course, they’re heavily involved with the Community Foundation. Lloyd was always doing special events for groups that had asked.” The Stratford and Perth County Community Foundation said he was a valued fundholder and community philanthropist, particularly through the Lloyd and Nancy Robertson Youth Initiative Fund. “What made Lloyd’s philanthropy so special was how personal it was,” Rachel Smith, executive director of the Stratford and Perth County Community Foundation, said. “He understood the difference that support, encouragement, and opportunity can make in a young person’s life, and he wanted to help ensure others in our community had access to those same opportunities.” Through the fund, new instruments were purchased for Anne Hathaway Public School, student nutrition programs received support and organizations like ShelterLink and the YMCA got a boost. “We are deeply saddened by Lloyd’s passing and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and all those who were fortunate to know him,” Smith said. Lloyd’s legacy “Lloyd was a humble icon. He is a throwback to the great days of respect for journalism and for the integrity of the reporters, and for telling us what we had to know, and not how we needed to know it,” Mathieson said. “He just gave us the plain facts, and we need to cherish the integrity that Lloyd Robertson brought to the media, and we need to try to make sure we ourselves lead us back there. And that’s how Lloyd’s legacy will live on.” The man who spent decades dedicating his life to sharing the stories of other Canadians, is now known as a man whose own story inspires others. “I’ll always remember as he signed off, ‘that’s the kind of day it’s been,’” Mathieson said. “And to Lloyd Robertson, Lloyd, thank you for always being so gracious, so kind, and for always caring about those in Stratford and around the world.”
