Tim Denis gets key to the city during final radio broadcast
‘Niagara’s morning man’ gets surprise gift from Mayor Mat Siscoe
After nearly 30 years of being known as “Niagara’s morning man” at 610 CKTB, Tim Denis finished his last shift at the downtown St. Catharines radio station Tuesday — but not before being presented with a special honour.
At the conclusion of the long-running council wrap-up interview, St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe, with Deputy Mayor Bill Phillips, presented Denis with the ceremonial key to the city.
In a city news release, Siscoe said the key is given to individuals whose career contributions reflect positively on the community.
“We are proud to honour Tim for all he has done for the community — whether it is MCing events to raise money for worthwhile causes, or giving voices to those in the community who couldn’t otherwise be heard,” he said.
“Tim has demonstrated the best qualities we could hope for, and we all owe him a thank you. The Key to the City is a small token of our appreciation.”
Denis began his career in radio 47 years ago at CHOW in Welland, where the then-17-year-old did a weekly show for high school kids. It led to a full-time gig in Simcoe in 1979, doing the night shift. He then came back to do mornings at CHOW for three years.
He later moved to QR FM — then a county station before becoming 97.7 HTZ-FM — operating out of the former Merritt House on Yates Street, now known as the “White House of Rock.”
After a few more career moves, including in Nashville where he recorded a top-10 country album in 1985 — it featured a duet with a young Shania Twain — he moved back to Niagara to take up his position at CKTB, where he remained until his last shift April 30.
The city release said along with being a constant voice and trusted source of local news, Denis has had an “immeasurable impact” on Niagara charities, helping raise tens of millions of dollars as a volunteer MC for various gala fundraisers and events.
Denis joins a prestigious list of recipients of the key to the city, including Doug Hamilton, Kristen Kit, Tim Hicks, Dan Patterson, Norm Foster, Edward Burtynsky, Jack Lightstone, Tom Rankin, Robert Cooper, Fergie Jenkins, Mary Ann Edwards and Rosemary Hale.
This is the first key to the city presented by Siscoe.