Obituaries

John Fraser McKay, television producer with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, died at the age of 90 on 9th November 2026.

Born in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, John was the son of Dr Hugh Fraser McKay and Helen Christine Stewart McKay, and the great-grandson of industrialist Graham Fraser, co-founder of the Nova Scotia Steel and Forge Company, Trenton. Educated at New Glasgow High School and the University of King’s College, John inherited the Fraser family’s technical bent.

John and his sister, Ann, spent their summers on the water at Moodie Cove, Pictou Landing. John applied himself to maintenance, having learned practical skills from his “Poppy,” James Stewart, a plumber. Whether the problem involved a water system, an outboard motor, a car, or almost anything mechanical, John could usually coax it back into working order.

At the CBC, John found an outlet for his jack-of-all-trades abilities. He trained as a producer during the early years of television after trying his hand at various roles. John was remarkably versatile. He could read an orchestral score, pull lights and wires, operate a TV camera and assist with a script.

John contributed to iconic CBC programs: Singalong Jubilee, episodes of The Nature of Things; and Switchback. He helped to document the experiences of African Nova Scotians in CBC’s ‘Close-Up: Black Insights’ (1962) and pressed CBC to make diversity key in the hiring process. In the late 60s and early 70s he produced the influential weekly program Perspective with hosts like Marilyn MacDonald, and its summer replacement, Summer Perspective with the inimitable Dr. Henry Hicks, president of Dalhousie University and former Nova Scotia premier, in the role of conversationalist and interviewer.

His production of The Maritimes Tonight, with Frank Cameron and Doug Saunders, achieved the largest audience share of any CBC regional late-night newscast. Their audience was so substantial that the local water utility asked to be notified of the timing of commercial breaks so that it could anticipate sudden increases in demand.

John met his wife, Amy “Tinker” Pullen McKay, at the CBC. They married and raised a family together. At family gatherings, he could reliably be found either under a car or taking apart an appliance. His four children and nine grandchildren remember wonderful days at the beach, trips to the Bulk Barn for candy, and training in various home repairs. As a grandfather, he took great pride in his grandkids’ sporting, military, and academic achievements.

Retiring from the CBC in 1992, John devoted his energy to the CBC Pensioners Association. Active in founding the national association in 2000, he served as president of the Maritime Region (2006 – 2019). John helped to secure a share of the CBC pension-plan surplus for retirees. After he stepped down, the national executive called him to Ottawa to honour him for his many years of service. He was touched by messages from colleagues saying how much the additional pension income had meant to them.

Tinker predeceased him in February 2026. John is survived by their four children, Professor Deirdre McKay (Dr Ben Smith), Christina McKay (Mikael Brodin), Dr Hugh McKay (Dr Monique Richard), and Mary McKay (Stuart Benson); nine grandchildren; his niece, Dr Julie Millard; and his nephew, Robert Millard. He was predeceased by his sister, Charlotte Ann McKay Millard.

A memorial service will be held on 30th March at 11 am at St. Paul’s Church, Grand Parade, Halifax. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Paul’s Church to support the new All Souls Columbarium.