Alan Maitland (1921 – February 11, 1999) was a

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

radio broadcaster. He was a longtime host for

CBC Radio CBC Radio is the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which (regardless of language) are outlined below ...

, starting as an announcer in 1947 and was later cohost of ''

As It Happens ''As It Happens'' is a Canadian interview show that airs on CBC Radio One in Canada and various public radio stations in the United States through Public Radio Exchange. Its 50th anniversary was celebrated on-air on November 16, 2018. It has been ...

'' from 1974 to 1993. He was also part of the administration of CBC Radio for a brief period in 1958 between assignments as an announcer.Dafoe, Chris. Fireside Al' joined CBC Radio team in 1947'', ''

The Globe and Mail ''The Globe and Mail'' is a Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of approximately 2 million in 2015, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on weekdays and Saturdays, although it ...

''. A3. February 12, 1999. In his "Fireside Al" segments on ''As It Happens'' and other CBC programs ("Frontporch Al" in summer time), Maitland frequently read short stories, some of which he also published in book form. Some "Fireside Al" segments continue to air on the program to this day, particularly his Christmas Eve readings of seasonal stories, notably

Frederick Forsyth Frederick McCarthy Forsyth (born 25 August 1938) is an English novelist and journalist. He is best known for thrillers such as ''The Day of the Jackal'', ''The Odessa File'', '' The Fourth Protocol'', '' The Dogs of War'', ''The Devil's Alter ...

's ''

The Shepherd ''The Shepherd'' is a 1975 novella by British writer Frederick Forsyth. Plot ''The Shepherd'' relates the story of a De Havilland Vampire pilot, going home on Christmas Eve 1957, whose aircraft suffers a complete electrical failure en route f ...

'' and O. Henry's ''

The Gift of the Magi "The Gift of the Magi" is a short story by O. Henry first published in 1905. The story tells of a young husband and wife and how they deal with the challenge of buying secret Christmas gifts for each other with very little money. As a sentimenta ...

''. He died of heart failure due to congestive heart disease in Vancouver, British Columbia at the age of 78.

References

1921 births 1999 deaths Canadian radio news anchors Canadian male short story writers Canadian talk radio hosts CBC Radio hosts 20th-century Canadian short story writers 20th-century Canadian male writers Canadian male non-fiction writers {{Canada-radio-bio-stub