John Aird (banker)

Sir John Aird
Born	Template:Birth date Longueuil, Canada East
Died	November 30, 1938(1938-11-30) (aged 83) Toronto, Canada
Occupation(s)	Financier, banking executive
Years active	1878–1929
Known for	President of Canadian Bank of Commerce (1924–1929); Chair of the Royal Commission on broadcasting (Aird Commission)

Sir John Aird (November 15, 1855 – November 30, 1938) was a prominent Canadian financier originating from Longueuil, located in what was then Canada East (present-day Quebec). He began his career with the Canadian Bank of Commerce in 1878 and held the position of president between 1924 and 1929.

Aird Commission

During the 1920s, broadcasting governance faced significant challenges, including concerns about religious radio stations potentially fueling sectarian disputes and the prevalence of American stations overtaking Canadian frequencies despite agreements intended to reserve airwaves for Canada. These issues led Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King's administration to form a Royal Commission on broadcasting matters. This commission was chaired by Aird, with electrical engineer Augustin Frigon and Ottawa Citizen editor Charles Bowman serving as members.

The commission's 1929 report advocated for the creation of a publicly funded broadcasting service supported in part by a $3 annual licence fee. This recommendation laid the groundwork for what eventually became the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Nevertheless, the onset of the 1929 Wall Street Crash impeded immediate governmental backing. Later, under Prime Minister R. B. Bennett's leadership, the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission was formed in 1932, with journalist Hector Charlesworth appointed as its head.

Aird passed away in Toronto in 1938. His legacy continued through his grandson, John Black Aird, who was a Canadian attorney and served as Ontario’s 23rd Lieutenant Governor from 1980 to 1985.

External links

• Sir John Aird at The Canadian Encyclopedia
• John Aird at the Manitoba Historical Society