Born and raised in Altona, Elmer Hildebrand is one of Manitoba’s broadcasting pioneers. He started work with Golden West Broadcasting in 1957 and became general manager in 1965. Under his leadership, the company grew from two AM stations in Altona and Steinbach to a chain of 28 radio stations across the prairies. He is a founding member and past president of the Broadcasters Association of Manitoba and served as president of the Western Association of Broadcasters and chair of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters. A strong supporter of communities across southern Manitoba, he is president of Altona Mall Developments and Elmer Hildebrand Communications Inc., which owns three additional radio stations in Saskatoon, Sask. He built the first shopping mall in southern Manitoba, and served as president and commissioner of the South Eastern Manitoba Hockey League for many years. In 1997, he was inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Radio Southern Manitoba and Hildebrand has been there for every one of those years.
