Paul Hanover

At least as well known as any elected mayor in Hamilton’s history is Paul Hanover, the city’s former “Mayor of the Morning.”

A fixture on CHML Radio’s morning show from 1945 to 1982, Paul spent a total of 41 years at the station. Generations of Hamiltonians woke up to his voice. And unlike many radio personalities, they knew his face as well, due to his tireless participation in community events and his television presence on CTV as a game show host.

Paul Hanover was born in Hamilton in 1926, the youngest of six children. His radio career began at the age of 17 in Sault Ste. Marie, following graduation from Westdale Secondary School. But before long he returned to Hamilton to join CHML, where he landed a job on the morning shift. In 1956 a parade of former mayors, led by Mayor Lloyd D. Jackson, appointed Paul as Mayor of the Morning in recognition of his service to the community.

Paul left the morning show in 1982 and did four years of promotional work for CHML. In 1986 he was back on the air helping to launch CKOC’s new FM station, CKLH (now known as K-Lite). He retired in 1991.

Paul’s list of community participation includes a remarkable 40-year stretch as emcee for Hamilton’s B’Nai Brith Sports Night and service on boards ranging from Dundas Public Library and Beverly Golf and Country Club to the Lupus Society and the Heart and Stroke Society. He has chaired the Jewish National Fund and was Citizen of the Year for its Negev Dinner. He currently volunteers with Shalom Village, the Cancer Society, the downtown “Out of the Cold” program and the Jewish National Fund.

Paul has been married for 53 years to Helen and they have two sons, Ian and Lawrence, and three grandchildren.