Global News Calgary is saying goodbye to a broadcast legend as Tony Tighe prepares to anchor his final newscast and retire after an accomplished 40 years in the business.
Tighe started his broadcast career in radio; hosting his own high school radio show in Kapuskasing, Ontario.
That led him to study radio at Loyalist College, then travel west to Calgary where he started his investigative career at CJAY 92.
In 1989 his journey to become “Calgary’s most accomplished” television consumer reporter took him to CFCN Calgary. A year later, he joined the Global Calgary family and has become “the city’s greatest advocate of righting consumer wrongs” in his reporting.
“Tony Tighe’s stellar reporting and support for community organizations have changed our city for the better,” Global Calgary news director and station manager Chris Bassett said. “No one can cut to the heart of a story like Tony and we have been honoured to work with him for so many years.”
In his 40-year career, Tighe has received numerous awards for his reports and investigations, including the 2002 Better Business Bureau Ethics Award.
In 2015, Tighe received the RTDNA Lifetime Achievement Award for his work.
Watch from 2015: Global Calgary is proud to congratulate Tony Tighe on achieving the Lifetime Achievement Award for the Prairie region at the 2015 RTNDA Awards.
Tighe not only advocates for the community and its members at work, he’s also an active volunteer — for more than 10 years, he’s been a reading tutor at the Calgary Public Library. He was awarded the John Dutton Award in 2012 for the Calgary Public Library’s Volunteer of the Year.
Global Calgary will celebrate Tighe’s career on his last day with the network: Thursday, Aug. 2.
Join in the send-off on The Morning News on Global News Radio 770 CHQR and for his final anchored broadcast on Global News at Noon as well as on Global News Hour at 6.
Taking the reigns
While Tighe is signing off, consumer-based stories will continue to be a priority at Global News Calgary, with Tomasia DaSilva expanding her role.
The “Minding Your Business” segment on Global News Hour at 6 will evolve into a new brand: DaSilva will cover consumer, money and business stories focused on Calgarians.
Taking over the anchor seat on Global News at Noon is Bindu Suri, who’s moving from the weekends to keep bringing Global’s loyal viewers the news.
“Bindu has built a robust audience as weekend anchor and brings a strong profile in the community to the News at Noon,” Bassett said.
WATCH: Bindu Suri answers a few questions for Global Calgary viewers, including: what’s the best part of your job, what inspires you and what’s something we don’t know about you?