Ron Kronstein

Birthplace
Toronto, Ontario

First Media Job
CKPR Radio / CHFD TV, Thunder Bay, Ontario


Born in Toronto, Ron has been in television and radio news for more than 30 years. Ron studied Broadcast Journalism for Television and Film Production at Niagara College and started his career at CKPR FM and CHFD TV in Thunder Bay. He found his way to Sudbury in late 1979 joining CKSO Radio and TV. His humble beginnings in Sudbury included weekend anchor duties and reporting. A major break came for Ron when he convinced News Director Garry Janz to give him a shot at the six o’clock television broadcast, replacing Mike Cranston who left for Halifax, Nova Scotia. He worked alongside Joe Bowen and Frank Salive. Following the Mid-Canada take-over of CKSO TV and CKNC TV in 1980, Ron was transferred to Ottawa where he managed the CHRO Bureau and delivered the MCTV Newswatch newscasts. At this juncture in his career, Ron Kronstein became a household name having reported virtually every beat and anchored every newscast across Northern Ontario and in the Ottawa region. Ron would soon be in Halifax himself, but not before briefly returning to Sudbury and CICI TV (formerly CKSO TV).

Then it was off to Halifax where he served as a producer-anchor at the Atlantic Satellite Network (ASN) between 1983 and 1995. Then he headed to CKY TV in Winnipeg to take on the role as managing editor and senior anchor until 1998. He then returned to Halifax for a second stint as producer and host of the highly rated CTV news magazine show “Live at 5”, leaving five years later in 2003.

Ron eventually took a break from broadcasting and joined the Canadian Army Reserve. He attended The Defence Information School in Fort Meade Maryland, USA and studied Military Public Affairs. Upon his return to Canada, Ron completed his infantry officer training. Ron would spend ten years in the Canadian Armed Forces where he served as a Public Affairs Officer and Media Relations Specialist in Halifax and Ontario. During the G8 and G20 summits, Ron, then a Lieutenant, was part of a small team of Canadian military officers in the Summit’s ISU or Integrated Security Unit and liaised closely with the RCMP, OPP, Toronto Police and Canadian Forces personnel. Ron also helped 3,000 Canadian Forces members from CFB Petawawa train for their upcoming six-month tour in Afghanistan at Fort Irwin, Texas.

Ron retired with the rank of Army Captain and once again returned to Halifax in May of 2011 where he joined Global TV as Senior Anchor for the Global Halifax and Global New Brunswick evening newscasts for nearly seven years. In his many years working in Halifax he covered some of Canada’s biggest stories, including the Westray mine disaster, The Swissair plane crash, numerous tragedies at sea and the Moncton RCMP killings.

Following this third stint in Halifax, Ron moved to Peterborough in March of 2018 to assume his current role of Manager of News and Television Operations, CHEX TV, Global Peterborough, part of Corus Entertainment. Ron continues to be honoured and proud to work with a seasoned team of news professionals.

Ron has always been involved in his communities. He has taken active roles in Canadian Cancer Society fundraising efforts, he has and continues to support the United Way first in Halifax and now in Peterborough.

Ron has been a board member of the Abilities Foundation (now Easter Seals) in Halifax and hosted their Muscular Dystrophy Telethons for many years.

Ron stands in the esteemed company of those who have been awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal for outstanding and exemplary contributions to their communities or their country. The award was bestowed upon him in 2002 at Bedford, Nova Scotia for his work with the Abilities Foundation of Nova Scotia. The National Canadian Cancer Society granted Ron a Special Recognition Award. Ron has also received an RTDNA President’s Award for his contributions to broadcasting.
Ron Kronstein is a member of the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) and serves as Co-Chair for Canada’s Central Region.

Ron looks back on his days at CKSO with great fondness. He credits Gary Janz and Larry Gavin, News Director and Operations Manager respectively in those days, with having taught him a great deal and being instrumental in advancing Ron’s career.

Ron speaks English and German. In his time off, he enjoys photography, the outdoors, travelling the world with his wife Eleanor and spending time with his family and two rambunctious Labrador Retrievers, Lola and Aggie.