Brian Williams

A decorated sports broadcaster for more than 30 years, Brian Williams hosted CTV’s Olympic Prime Time coverage at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, marking the 13th Olympic Games he’s covered throughout his prestigious career.

Williams was recognized for his exceptional efforts at Vancouver 2010 with a Gemini Award as Best Host or Interviewer in a Sports Program and was named Outstanding Broadcaster by Sports Media Canada.

Considered the dean of Olympic Games broadcasting in Canada, Williams continues to report on all things Olympics and will anchor the network’s prime time coverage of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Williams reported on his first Olympic Games at the 1976 Summer Games from Montreal.  He has covered every high-profile sporting event around the globe, including the NHL, Major League Baseball, PGA TOUR, Canadian and World Figure Skating Championships, World Cup Skiing, Pan Am Games and Commonwealth Games.

In addition to his work on the Olympic Games, Williams is also heavily involved in the CFL on TSN broadcasts, conducting weekly interviews with key newsmakers in the Canadian Football League.  In 2010, Williams was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame Football Reporters wing in honour of his contributions to the CFL over the years.

Williams’ respected broadcast style has endeared him to millions of Canadians from coast-to-coast.  He has won praise from critics and numerous accolades, including eight career Gemini Awards and two Foster Hewitt Awards.  

Williams is currently on the Governors Council at North York General Hospital in Toronto and a former member of the hospital’s Board of Directors.  He is a lifetime member of the Board of Directors of the Ronald McDonald Children’s Charities and member of the Board of Directors of the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation.  Williams is also on the selection committee for the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in Toronto and works with Special Olympics Canada.  In 2006, Williams received an honourary Doctor of Humane Letters when he delivered the commencement address at his alma matter Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Born in Winnipeg, Williams began calling university basketball play-by-play in 1967.  He started his professional career in radio with Toronto’s CHUM.  After a year at CFRB Radio in Toronto, Williams joined CBLT and remained with CBC until his move to CTV/TSN in June, 2006.

• GOING FOR GOLD
  Lessons In Greatness From The Olympic Games

  Brian Williams is considered the dean of Canadian sports commentators, with more than a quarter of a century of broadcast experience. He reminds you why you watch the Olympics: the sheer excellence of the participants. He tells compelling stories of struggle and success form Winter and Summer Olympics around the world. As someone who has met and interviewed Canadian athletes in all sports at the top of the game he shares with you the qualities they have that account for their success. Whatever it is you do there is a "gold" you can strive for. So as he entertains with his anecdotes he also provides a powerful message about what it takes to be the top in your chosen field. While it's unlikely you'll ever compete in the Olympics, having Brian Williams present to your organization is the next best thing to being there.

• The feedback that we have received on your remarks is amazing. Many of our members rated you as a 5 – the rating scale only went to 4. This can be a tough crowd to please. Congratulations and well done!
  The Life Insurance Institute of Canada