John Bassett

The Honourable John White Hughes Bassett, PC , CC , O.Ont (August 25, 1915 – April 27, 1998) was a Canadian publisher and media baron.

Related Topics:
The Honourable - PC - CC - O.Ont - August 25 - 1915 - April 27 - 1998 - Canadian - Publisher - Media baron

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Born in Ottawa, Ontario, he was the son of John Bassett (1886-1958), publisher of the Montreal Gazette, and Margaret Avery. Bassett attended Ashbury College and graduated from Bishop's University with a BA in 1936. He became a reporter for the Toronto Globe and Mail.

Related Topics:
Ottawa, Ontario - 1886 - 1958 - Montreal Gazette - Bishop's University - 1936 - Reporter - Toronto - Globe and Mail

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After fighting with the Army in World War II, Bassett ran unsuccessfully for the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, in the 1945 Canadian election in the riding of Sherbrooke. He lost to the Liberal candidate, Maurice Gingues. He also ran in the 1962 election in the riding of Spadina. He lost again to the Liberal candidate, Perry Ryan.

Related Topics:
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada - 1945 Canadian election - Maurice Gingues - 1962 election - Perry Ryan

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His first experience in newspaper ownership was with the Sherbrooke Daily Record, which he bought from his father. In 1952, Bassett purchased part ownership of the Toronto Telegram. In 1960, he founded Baton Broadcasting to run Toronto's first commercial television station, CFTO. From 1957 until 1979, Bassett was the owner of the Toronto Argonauts, a team in the Canadian Football League.

Related Topics:
Sherbrooke Daily Record - 1952 - Toronto Telegram - 1960 - Baton Broadcasting - Toronto - Television station - CFTO - 1957 - 1979 - Toronto Argonauts - Canadian Football League

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In 1989, he was appointed, for a three-year term, Chairman of the Security Intelligence Review Committee, an independent body that reports to the Parliament of Canada on the operations of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. Due to the requirements under the Official Secrets Act, Bassett was sworn into the Queen's Privy Council for Canada.

Related Topics:
1989 - Parliament of Canada - Canadian Security Intelligence Service - Official Secrets Act - Queen's Privy Council for Canada

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He married Isabel Bassett in 1970.

Related Topics:
Isabel Bassett - 1970

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Bassett had six children : John Frederick, Doug and David from an earlier marriage and Avery, Sarah and Matthew from his marriage to Isabel. Former tennis star Carling Bassett-Seguso is the daughter of John Frederick Bassett.

Related Topics:
John Frederick - Tennis - Carling Bassett-Seguso

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