Bill Jessome, long-time Nova Scotia broadcast journalist, dies at 88

HALIFAX – Bill Jessome, a well-known broadcaster who never strayed far from his Nova Scotia roots, has died.

He was 88.

In a statement, his family says Jessome died Monday night in Halifax following a distinguished career as a journalist and television host.

Jessome was born in Sydney, N.S., on Jan. 11, 1925 and grew up in the neighbourhood of Whitney Pier before serving overseas in the Italian Campaign of the Second World War.

As a journalist, Jessome worked in Boston before taking on the role as evening anchor at CJCB television in Cape Breton, which eventually became part of ATV and then CTV.

Jessome, who was also an actor, hosted the Maritime Mysteries series and for many years was the face of the annual Cape Breton broadcast of the CTV Christmas Daddies Telethon.

He also had a passion for news documentaries that explored the province’s roots, and authored several books on supernatural Maritime history.

Jessome was honoured this year with a lifetime achievement award from RTDNA Canada, which described him as one of the best-known local TV news anchors in Cape Breton and a founding figure of Maritime television.