SPORTS BROADCASTER AND North Toronto resident Al Stewart passed away on July 22, at the age of 73, of complications from surgery. The North Torontonian was known for his role in launching Coach’s Corner with Don Cherry.
“He was known as ‘the idea man,’” said Bill Pashby, chair of the Dr. Tom Pashby Sports Safety Fund, which raises money for research and education to prevent sports-related injuries, where Stewart served as director.
Stewart was born in 1935 and grew up playing sports at Rolph Road Public School and Leaside High School. While he attended Osgoode Hall and the University of Toronto, he worked part-time at Maple Leaf Gardens.
There, Stewart worked his way up from selling event programs to becoming executive assistant to Harold Ballard, a former owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Maple Leaf Gardens.
Stewart became involved with Hockey Night in Canada by creating his own multimedia company. He also produced instructional sports and safety videos and coached minor league hockey at Leaside.
“One of his ideas was the establishment of a $10,000 annual award to recognize and honour people who make sports and recreational activities safer from catastrophic injuries,” said Pashby. “This cash award has been given to concerned Canadians, to raise the level of safety awareness to recognize publicly the socially beneficial contribution made by the winners and to inspire other Canadians to volunteer their time and talents in the cause of injury prevention.”
