In recognition of Elly Alboim’s lifelong dedication to educating and mentoring young journalists, the family invites those who wish to honour his memory to consider making a contribution to the Elly Alboim Memorial Fund at Carleton University in support of students enrolled in a program in the School of Journalism and Communication.

Widely respected for his work in television news and political reporting, Elly devoted his career to shaping the next generation of reporters.

Elly Alboim had a long and distinguished career spanning both the public and private sectors in journalism and media, education, communications, public policy and politics. For more than 50 years, his work significantly shaped how Canadians understood their government and their communities.

Elly worked as a journalist for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) for 23 years. During that time, he served as Parliamentary Bureau Chief for CBC Television News, Senior Producer of Live News Specials and National Political Editor for the network. His insights helped shape CBC TV News reporting on events ranging from the 1980 Quebec referendum to the Trudeau government’s National Energy Program, Canada–United States free trade negotiations, and the rise and fall of the Meech Lake and Charlottetown accords.

Elly cared deeply for his country and its democratic processes. He understood that a healthy democracy depends on a free, fair and honest press, and he worked tirelessly to ensure that everything that came across or left his desk met the highest ethical journalistic standards. Everything he did was about upholding the truth, and he passed that ethos on to generations of students during his 45 years as a professor at Carleton University’s School of Journalism.

As a journalism educator, his direct influence was impressive and extensive. He taught thousands of Canadian journalists and communications professionals over the course of his teaching career and was a dedicated mentor to generations of aspiring journalists.

His legacy lives on in the thousands of students who have dedicated themselves to the pursuit of truth, journalistic integrity, and the telling of stories that are diverse and uniquely Canadian.

“I believe in a diversity of voices and a diversity of views. I think that, ultimately, democracy is better served by that.”
— Elly Alboim, The Hurle Burly, January 10, 2022

Read the story Legendary Carleton journalism professor Elly Alboim dies at 78 here.