Andy Barrie

Andy Barrie (born January 30 1945) is the host of CBC's morning drive-time show, "Metro Morning", in Toronto, Ontario.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Barrie moved with his family to Yonkers, New York in 1952, where he attended public schools, going on to major in theater at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. After university, he began a career in radio: WCCC-FM in Hartford, Connecticut, WAYE in Baltimore and WASH-FM, then a Metromedia station in Washington, DC.

Given Conscientious Objector status by his local draft board during the Vietnam War, Barrie trained as a combat medic. In 1969, he received orders to be shipped to Vietnam. A conversation with his brother, a career officer who had just returned from two years there, confirmed Barrie's decision to leave the U.S. for Canada. He later received a General Discharge from the United States Army, became a Canadian citizen, and is free to travel to the U.S.

Andy Barrie was introduced to CJAD Radio in Montreal, and when one of the station's long-time commentators resigned in protest during the October Crisis of 1970, Barrie was named as his replacement. In 1977, he moved to Toronto and a job at CFRB, where his commentaries won him an ACTRA award. He also worked briefly as an anchor and reporter for Global Television. In 1995, he was invited to join CBC Radio. Since then, he has been the host of "Metro Morning", the talk and current affairs program that has become the top-rated morning radio show in Toronto.

On June 29, 2007 Barrie revealed to his listeners that he had been diagnosed with early-stage Parkinson's disease. Barrie said he intends to continue as a broadcaster for at least another three years.

Andy Barrie has been married since 1970 to Dr. Mary Cone Barrie, retired in 2005 as the Director of the School of Continuing Studies at the University of Toronto. Their daughter Jessie also has a doctorate in education and specialises in outdoor experiential learning.

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