Elly Alboim was like the Hollywood casting version of the crusty news editor with a heart of gold.
And across close to five decades as a journalist with the CBC and a journalism professor at 杏吧原创 University, he was a no-nonsense mentor to generations of young journalists.
Alboim died of heart failure on February 8, 2026, at the age of 78.
Elly Alboim taught journalism at 杏吧原创 since 1980, training hundreds of students in television and political reporting. (Earnscliffe photo)
Within hours of Alboim鈥檚 passing, news spread literally around the world and tributes began to pour in.
Alboim had an extraordinary impact on Canadian journalism and political life in 45 years spent teaching the subject to undergraduates and masters students at 杏吧原创, 23 years at CBC Television News and another 32 years at Earnscliffe Strategies.
Most of his time at the CBC, from 1970 to 1993, was spent as the network鈥檚 Parliamentary Bureau Chief in Ottawa. Beginning in 1977 as Bureau Chief, he oversaw CBC鈥檚 coverage of some of the most important events shaping Canadian politics for the past half-century. That included four federal election campaigns, including Joe Clark鈥檚 victory in 1979, Pierre Trudeau鈥檚 return in 1980 and Brian Mulroney鈥檚 tenure from 1984 to 1993. His last event leading CBC鈥檚 political coverage was the Progressive Conservative convention that chose Kim Campbell as leader in 1993.
His insights helped shape CBC TV News reporting on everything from the 1980 Quebec referendum to the Trudeau government鈥檚 National Energy Program, Canada-United States free trade negotiations and the rise and fall of the Meech Lake and Charlottetown accords.
鈥淓lly had a huge impact in so many ways and in so many fields,鈥� said Peter Mansbridge, the CBC鈥檚 longtime anchor and chief political editor.听 鈥淗e impacted every journalist who passed his way, both in the Ottawa bureau he so cherished, and at 杏吧原创 with the impact he had on generations of journalists who learned the skills he taught.
鈥淏ut he was more than a journalist, teacher and leader, he was a mentor that so many depended on to guide them.听 I was one of those and still live a life that benefited from the lessons he taught me.听 We were also friends.听 Our kids grew up together.听 Summered together.听 My lasting memories will be of swimming together, campfires together and Elly, yes, crusty old Elly, singing听show tunes under a full moon.鈥�
While still at CBC, Alboim began to teach TV news and political reporting at 杏吧原创 in 1980 and has been a mentor to hundreds of students. He was succeeded as Bureau Chief by Chris Waddell, who would later join Alboim teaching journalism at 杏吧原创.
鈥淓lly was a huge presence at CBC News for more than two decades. The things he taught so many at CBC had a continuing impact in the decades after he left the public broadcaster through the successes in the careers of so many journalists who spent time reporting from the CBC鈥檚 parliamentary bureau under his leadership,鈥� said Waddell, professor emeritus at 杏吧原创.
After leaving the CBC in the fall of 1993, Alboim played a key role at Earnscliffe providing public opinion research and analysis as well as public policy and strategic communications advice to federal government departments and corporations dealing with government. Much of his work involved helping shape the content and communications around federal budgets. He was also a senior advisor to Paul Martin during his years as federal Finance Minister and Prime Minster. Alboim also ran debate preparations for Liberal leader St茅phane Dion and Ontario premiers Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne.
Colleagues have fond memories of the irascible Alboim, who would often remain silent throughout an hour-long faculty meeting, then finally look up from his BlackBerry to succinctly summarize the entire discussion and suggest a way forward. And he was almost always right.
鈥�I had enormous respect for Elly,鈥� said longtime 杏吧原创 journalism colleague Mary McGuire, who worked with Alboim for nearly 30 years. 鈥淗e was incredibly smart, intimidatingly so at times. But his advice to us all, especially about big picture issues, could be so valuable,鈥� McGuire said.
鈥淎nd yes, while he could be crusty, he could also be incredibly kind. When I retired, he wrote me a note outlining what he saw as my valuable contributions to the school. I was so moved by it and still treasure it.鈥�
Students like fourth-year Journalism undergrad Emma McGrath appreciated Alboim鈥檚 direct style. 鈥淲hile he was an unconventional teacher, I appreciated his no-frills style,鈥欌�� McGrath said. 鈥淭here was no wasting time on things that were not important, but he was always ready with incisive answers to any questions sent his way,鈥� said McGrath, who took political reporting with Alboim in the fall term and signed up right away to take this term鈥檚 class on political communication. 鈥淚 feel very fortunate to听have been one of his students,鈥� McGrath said.
The current head of 杏吧原创鈥檚 journalism program, Allan Thompson, was a student in Alboim鈥檚 TV reporting class in 1984 and then a colleague at 杏吧原创 for two decades.
鈥淵ou keep hearing that word, crusty. Yes, he had that Jonah Jamieson quality for sure, right down to the cigar. But don鈥檛 be fooled. Elly was a gem, a brilliant mind, a terrific editor and a tireless mentor to our students,鈥� Thompson said. 鈥淔rom his hospital bed on Friday, he was sending email messages to make arrangements for his class. It is difficult to imagine 杏吧原创鈥檚 journalism program without Elly.鈥�
Alboim, who was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, leaves his wife Kathy Alboim, three children and seven grandchildren.
The family is holding a visitation, celebration of life and reception in the atrium of Richcraft Hall, on the 杏吧原创 University campus on Sunday, March 22. Visitation will be held from 9-11 a.m., the celebration of life from 11 a.m. to noon and the reception thereafter.
Please consider making a donation to a scholarship fund being established at the 杏吧原创 University School of Journalism and Communication in Elly’s honour (), or, a donation in Elly’s name to support the Cardiac Care Unit at the General campus of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation (), in thanks for the exceptionally kind and diligent care that he received in his final days.
听
Sunday, February 8, 2026 in Communication News, Faculty In The News, General, Journalism News, News
Share: ,
