VOLKMAR RICHTER

Volkmar Richter passed away suddenly but peacefully, of natural causes, in Vancouver on January 29, 2026. Born in Neuseddin, Germany, in 1944, Volkmar spent his early childhood in Austria before immigrating to southern Ontario in 1952. He arrived in Canada knowing one English word, "hello." Within ten years he'd so adapted to his new country that he was elected "prime minister" of Scarborough's Cedarbrae Secondary. He went on to earn a B.A. in history from the University of Toronto, where he was an editor of the Varsity newspaper, working alongside many lifelong friends, Rod Mickleburgh in particular. After graduating from the U of T, Volkmar joined CBC Radio in 1970 as an original member of what was dubbed the Radio Revolution, formed to make the broadcaster's programming more relevant to the era's youth culture. Assigned to produce As It Happens, he chose its iconic theme song. While working in Toronto, he met his future wife, Kim, and in 1972, moved to her hometown, Vancouver. There he produced Quirks and Quarks and BC Almanac, along with many other programs and features for local and network airing. Over his 35 year career at the CBC Radio, he was a long-standing mentor and his fame as a font of knowledge so great that it birthed an axiom: "Before there was Google, there was Volkie." He was a journalist through and through; he had questions for everyone no matter who, where or when. In retirement, he segued seamlessly to The National Observer to review movies for the next 20 years as a member of The Vancouver Film Critics Circle. Away from work, and with the Northshore mountains reminding him of Austria, he hiked and swam there, with his kids, on many summer days. A music lover with a legendary vinyl collection, he always had something on the turntable - DJ'ing parties in his early years and later filling the house with music. Above all else was his love of his family: a great dad, he supported his kids unconditionally and had a long and fulfilling marriage of 54 years. He's survived by his wife, Kim Richards; his children, Max (Annie) and Alison (Tyler); grandchildren, Tavish, Freya, Simon, Sam and Julia; and brothers, Otto, Herb and Conrad, along with their families and that of his late sister, Christel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the UBC Journalism Student Fund, which provides financial support to journalism students. A small celebration of his life will be held at a later date.