Sandy Burgess was a Québécois radio personality known for his populist rhetoric and being an ardent Québécois nationalist while still supporting Federalism.
Biography
[edit]Burgess was born in 1931 in Rimouski, Quebec.[1][a] He had initially studied at the Rimouski Seminary in order to become a Catholic priest, however, pivoted to radio, being hired at Progrès du Golfe in 1953, a local regional station of CJBR for the Gaspé Peninsula, beginning a nearly 40 year career in radio.[1][2] During his time for Golfe Burgess would write over 1,800 articles.[2] Burgess' highly emotional style of reporting, and his emphasis on the well-being of the country's French-speaking workers, was extremely popular among the Québécois community.[3]
Burgess made a name for himself in fighting corruption in Québécois journalism, beginning when the mayor of Rimouski, who was also a used car salesman, tried to pressure Burgess into writing a puff piece on his car dealership with his political connections, with Burgess becoming a local symbol for righteousness, integrity, and justice.[3] Burgess was also a vocal opponent of the Eastern Quebec Development Office, which attempted to shift Quebec towards a service economy, arguing that the effort was harmful to Québécois farmers and foresters.[3] Despite his vocal opposition to the government, and support of Québécois nationalism, Burgess was still an ardent supporter of the Liberals, and was a Federalist.[3] Although Burgess also received criticism for opposing Feminist movements.[3]
Burgess would leave the world of Radio to run for Rimouski's Parliament seat in the 1974 election as a Liberal although he would narrowly lose to Eudore Allard of the Social Credit Party with 13,698 votes to Allard's 15,085.[4] After the 1980 Labour Conflict Burgess became disillusioned in the Liberal party and returned to radio, continuing his work as a radio host until his death.[5]
Burgess died suddenly in August 1983, at the age of 52.[1]
Legacy
[edit]In 2009 a foundation would be created in Burgess' name to promote French-speaking journalism.[2] In 2022 the foundation would sponsor a biography of Burgess, titled Sandy Burgess : La voix d’un géant (Sandy Burgess: The voice of a Giant) published in 2022.[2][6]
Rue Sandy-Burgess in Rimouski was named in honor of Burgess in 2008.[5]
Notes
[edit]- ^ The Burgess family traces lineage back to René Lepage de Sainte-Claire, the original French colonial Burgess of Rimouski.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Therriault, Olivier. "L'oeuvre de Sandy Burgess racontée". Le Soir. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ^ a b c d "La Fondation Sandy-Burgess met fin à ses activités". Le Soir. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Gallant, Laurence. "Raviver la voix du géant Sandy Burgess". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ^ "1974 Federal Election". canadianelectionsdatabase.ca. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ^ a b "Sandy-Burgess Street". gouv.qc.ca. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ^ "Sandy Burgess, la voix d'un géant". Quoi Vivre Rimouski. Retrieved 31 August 2025.