August 08, 2005

Prime Minister Paul Martin today made the following statement upon the passing of Peter Jennings, who died yesterday from lung cancer at the age of 67, after a long and remarkable career as foreign correspondent and as ABC network chief anchor for more than twenty years.

“It was with great sorrow that Sheila and I learned of the death of Peter Jennings yesterday. Born in Toronto, Peter Jennings will be remembered as one of America’s most inspirational and distinguished journalists of our times. Peter Jennings covered many of the most defining moments in the world’s post-war history: he witnessed the Berlin Wall coming up in the 1960s and down in 1989, the struggle for equality in South Africa, the Gulf War and most recently, the September 2001 terrorists attacks.

Peter Jennings started his career in Canadian radio at the age of nine with a kids show called Peter’s People. All through his life, he devoted time and energy in educating children about the world and he has been honored with many awards for his reporting and documentaries. He will continue to be a source of inspiration for generations of young reporters to come.

Sheila and I join with all Canadians and Americans to offer our deepest condolences to Mr. Jenning’s wife, Kayce Freed, and to his two children Elizabeth and Christopher.”