THUNDER BAY — A man whose behind-the-scenes expertise and dedication to his job kept TV and radio stations on the air in the Thunder Bay region for decades has been recognized for his contributions to the industry by the Central Canada Broadcast Engineers.
Denis Barriault, former director of engineering for Dougall Media, is the recipient of the CCBE's Lifetime Achievement Award.
He received the award on Aug. 23 at the professional association's annual conference near Toronto.
The CCBE brings together broadcast engineers, technologists and technicians with a mission to foster professional development, knowledge-sharing and networking within the broadcasting industry.
It gives the Lifetime Achievement Award to individuals who, over the span of their careers, have made outstanding contributions including innovations that have impacted the evolution and implementation of new broadcast technology.
After working for the CBC in Ottawa and for the House of Commons broadcasting services, Barriault joined Dougall Media's engineering team in 1986, quickly established himself as a team leader, rose through the ranks and eventually became head of the department.
In announcing the award, CCBE President Sean Craig recited Barriault's numerous achievements in overseeing the upgrading of Dougall Media's broadcasting equipment and technology infrastructure, including the conversion from analog to digital.
He also served with numerous industry associations including the Canadian Association of Broadcasters where he chaired the Technical Coordinating Committee.
After almost 45 years in broadcasting, Barriault retired from full-time employment in 2023 but continues to work part time at Dougall Media.
Company president Hector Dougall said the firm is "very proud" of him for winning the award, and was excited to learn about his national recognition.
He said Barriault has repeatedly solved every challenge that a broadcast engineer might face.
"Denis has been creative, innovative, and always on call to ensure we stayed on the air.
"He trained, supported and mentored our entire engineering team, creating the next generation of broadcast engineers. Our entire radio and television plants were built by Denis, and his legacy will always be with us."
