Biography
Ray Stone has been in the radio/television broadcasting profession for over 50 years. While serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force, he was responsible for the radio television and film production division of the Public Affairs Directorate, producing a long-running radio series entitled “RCAF Report” as well as numerous radio documentaries and special programs. He was staff announcer with the CBC National Bureau in Toronto, hosting a variety of local and network programs including "The World at 6". He later produced and hosted a CBC Northern Service radio series entitled "The Days Before Yesterday" as a free-lancer for many years.
He produced and hosted a long-running cable television series, "On the Line", and an award-winning mini-series (13 weeks) titled "To Your Health". For fifteen years he was the host of a news/talk radio program featured on 580-CFRA in Ottawa, entitled "Experts on Call". He also hosted "M.P. Report", a television series distributed through the Canadian Cable Television Association. This series featured interviews with Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament. Ray is involved in the creation and hosting of the TV series, "Focus on Retirement", aimed at the ‘Grey Power’ set. He has also narrated dozens of films, documentaries, training videos and commercials. He received the New York International Film and TV Festival Gold Award for his narration of a documentary entitled “The Shunter Alternative”, the story of ship traffic on the St. Lawrence Seaway. The Festival also awarded him the Silver medal for his narration of a documentary on Toronto International Airport.
A graduate of the United States Army Information School at Fort Slocum New York, he served as communications officer (Major) for 12 years with the RCAF working in the public and media relations specialty with NATO in Europe, and NORAD in the United States. He was later appointed communications assistant to the Minister of Defense. For an additional seventeen years Ray was Head of Radio/TV/Special Events and Exhibitions for the Public Affairs Directorate of Transport Canada. While there he acted as Director General of Public Affairs and Director of Creative Services on several occasions. For four of those years Ray was Special Media Advisor to the Minister of Transport. He is a published cartoonist and illustrator, and has worked with Jim Unger on the HERMAN series, and provided many of the gag ideas for the creators of FARCUS. He is the Founding Director of The Committee for the Removal of Artistic Pollution ... CRAP, which is a watch-dog organization mandated to provide a voice for those Canadians opposed to the arbitrary placement of alleged art works in public places. His acting career includes parts in several films and TV series, most notably playing the role of Chief Justice Earl Warren in the ABC mini-series “Jackie-O”, and a Nevada State judge in the Delta Burke film, “Going For Broke”. In the film “Day One” he portrayed General ‘Hap’ Arnold, the Commanding General of the United States Air Force. He has also been a long-time consultant to the Federal Government Assessment Center for Executive Appointment; a member of the Boards of Directors of the Michener Awards Foundation, Rideau Place Retirement Residence and Sandrine’s Gift; a Past President and Vice President of the National Press Club of Canada; and held the rank of Major in the Canadian Armed Forces. He is also a prostate cancer survivor. His recently published book entitled “Women Can’t Merge, Men Won’t Yield” is available in book stores across Canada, the US, and on the internet.
A book of poetry entitled “Poetically Licentious – 101 Ero-Sensuous Love Poems” is also available on the internet, and he has recently published a book to encourage smokers to quit the weed. It’s title, “The “Joy” of Smoking”. Ray was awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for outstanding service to the community. He is also the recipient of the Canadian Forces Medal, and the NATO Service medal.
(Trivia: Ray accompanied Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and his wife Margaret on their honeymoon cruise!)