Canadian financial TV journalist Jim O'Connell dies

10:20a ET Friday, May 4, 2007

Dear Friend of GATA and Gold:

Canada's Business News Network, formerly Report on Business Television, today announced the death of its and Canada's foremost financial journalist, Jim O'Connell, veteran host of the network's "Market Call" program.

O'Connell's integrity and insight led him, alone among television journalists, to encourage on-air discussion of the international gold price suppression scheme generally and GATA particularly. O'Connell and his network gave legitimacy to the issue not only in Canada but also, because of the network's Internet video archive of its programs, to the whole world. We will always be grateful for O'Connell's service, and so his family's loss is ours too.

As Canada itself often does for the United States, O'Connell showed that everything doesn't have to be stupid and venal -- that some ideals actually are still attainable and worth struggling for.

A video tribute to O'Connell is posted at BNN here:

http://www.bnn.ca/jim-oconnell/

BNN's announcement about O'Connell is appended.

CHRIS POWELL, Secretary/Treasurer
Gold Anti-Trust Action Committee Inc.

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From Business News Network, Toronto
Friday, May 4, 2007

http://www.bnn.ca/jim-oconnell/

TORONTO -- Business News Network staff and colleagues expressed their profound sadness today at the passing of Jim O'Connell, a respected and highly-acclaimed journalist and dear friend.

O'Connell died yesterday after a brief but brave fight with colon cancer. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Lisa Ramshaw, son Daniel, 18, and stepson Aaron, 25

He was 48.

"Jim was one of the country's finest and most respected journalists. Above all, he had a special place in his heart for his audience and will be missed by thousands of Canadians who have come to trust and depend on his judgment. For all of us who worked with Jim he was more than a colleague -- he was a friend," said Jack Fleischmann, General Manager, BNN-Business News Network.

O'Connell was part of a select group of journalists who helped launch Canada's business channel Report on Business Television (now known as BNN) in 1999. Since then, he went on to assume numerous senior editorial roles, including most recently as host of the network's flagship program, "Market Call." Prior to joining BNN, O'Connell enjoyed an extensive career in journalism including more than two decades with CTV News, reporting out of Ottawa, Winnipeg, Toronto, and serving as bureau chief in both Washington and London. He also served as host and correspondent for CTV's investigative news series, "W-FIVE."

O'Connell reported on some of the biggest stories of the last quarter-century and was widely recognized for his coverage on topics such as international politics, genocide, natural disasters, and race relations.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

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Join GATA
at the
World Gold, PGM, and Diamond Investment Conference
in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Sunday and Monday, June 17 and 18, 2007

http://www.cambridgeconferences.com/ch_june2007.html

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