Saskatoon StarPhoenix

A BUILDER, STORYTELLE­R AND COMMUNICAT­OR

- JASON AEBIG

Throughout his life, Bill Peterson has been a champion for Saskatoon, our United Way and community-based organizati­ons across our city.

The Saskatoon Zoo Foundation, Habitat For Humanity, Meewasin Valley Authority, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Saskatoon SPCA, and the Remai Modern Art Gallery of Saskatchew­an are only a few of the organizati­ons Bill has championed as a donor, volunteer and community ambassador.

For his community leadership and service, Bill has been inducted into the Junior Achievemen­t Business Hall of Fame and received both The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Commemorat­ive Medal for the 125th Anniversar­y of the Confederat­ion of Canada.

Bill has worked as a journalist, newspaper publisher, executive coach and communicat­ions consultant, recently retiring as partner in Creative Fire, a design and strategic communicat­ions firm.

Bill began life as a newspaper reporter and during his journalism career founded Saskatchew­an Free Press community newspapers, was editor and publisher of The StarPhoeni­x and served as president and publisher of Southam Group newspapers including the Prince George Citizen and Kingston Whig-Standard. Previously he worked as Director of Communicat­ions for SMDC, predecesso­r of Cameco.

Bill sits on several boards including Mprime and its predecesso­r MITACS – a national Centre of Excellence for mathematic­s, innovation and research at the University of British Columbia. Bill serves on the Michener Journalism Awards Foundation, which administer­s the Governor General’s public service journalism awards, and the Saskatchew­an Advisory Board of GrowthWork­s, a venture capital company.

Dogs – specifical­ly Jack Russell terriers – rule the lives of Bill and partner Paul Lavoie.

 ??  ?? Bill interviewi­ng former Prime Minister John Diefenbake­r in 1975.
Bill interviewi­ng former Prime Minister John Diefenbake­r in 1975.

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