Kirk LaPointe

Kirk LaPointe (born December 12, 1957)^[1] is a Canadian journalist and politician.

Early life

LaPointe was born in Toronto where he was raised by a single mother in what he describes as poverty conditions. He was educated at New Toronto Secondary School and Ryerson Polytechnical Institute where he earned a Bachelors in Journalism^[1] and was a broadcaster and station manager at campus station CKLN-FM.^[2]

Career

He has been managing editor at the Vancouver Sun (2003-2010), senior vice-president (news) at CTV (2000-2002), and executive editor at National Post (1998-1999).^[1] He was editor-in-chief of the Hamilton Spectator from 1997 until 1998 when he was hired by the National Post' before returning to the Spectator in 2000 to serve as editor and associate publisher.^[3] LaPointe was a host on CBC Newsworld from the station's inception in 1989 until 1995.^[4] From 2010 to 2012 he was ombudsman for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.^[5] He was subsequently executive director of the Organization of News Ombudsmen.^[5] He joined Self-Counsel Press, a leading Canadian publisher of self-help financial and legal books, where he was its publisher and editor-in-chief in 2014 and 2015. He joined Business in Vancouver Media Group and Roundhouse Radio in 2015.

In his early career, LaPointe spent nearly a decade-and-a-half at Canadian Press, beginning as a general assignment reporter and editor in Toronto in 1980. He moved to Ottawa in 1981 and worked in its parliamentary bureau as its communications and transportation reporter, fitness columnist, and parliamentary reporter, then moved back to Toronto in 1984 as its broadcast and communications reporter in Toronto, then its lifestyles editor. He returned to Ottawa as its news editor in 1987, then left for CBC Newsworld as a host in 1989 when it launched. He returned in 1991 to serve as bureau chief, remained a weekly host on CBC Newsworld, then moved to Toronto as CP's general news editor before leaving in 1995 for Southam News.^[4]

He started as a music writer, first for Record Week Magazine, then as the Canadian correspondent for CashBox, a music industry publication, from 1980 to 1983. He then joined Billboard Magazine as its Canadian editor from 1983 to 1991.

Mayoral campaign

In July 2014, he was chosen by the Non-Partisan Association, a municipal political party in Vancouver, to be the party's nominee for Mayor of Vancouver in the November 15, 2014 municipal election.^[5][6] Lapointe received 40% of the vote, coming in second behind incumbent mayor Gregor Robertson who received 46%.^[7]

Following his defeat, LaPointe said he intends to put politics “in the rear view mirror” and is uninterested in running in being a candidate in a future election saying “I recognize it comes with a physical, emotional toll, and I’m not sure I want to experience that any time soon.”^[8]

Current activities

LaPointe is currently an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia Graduate School of Journalism teaching ethics and leadership,^[5] the host of a three-hour evening radio program on Vancouver's Roundhouse Radio,^[9] and vice-president, audience and business development, at the Business in Vancouver Media Group.

References