Koehler, Horst : Arriving in Canada from Germany in 1952, Horst Koehler worked in a meat store prior to starting work as a journalist with the "Courier", a German language newspaper published in Regina. After 2 years in Regina, he moved to Vancouver where he helped found the Vancouver issue of the "Courier". While still with the "Courier", he was invited by a friend to join him in putting on a German language broadcast at Radio CKLG. Starting out with a half-hour Saturday morning broadcast called "Musikgarten," after 2 years he increased his broadcast time to 5 hours weekly. His one program had grown to two: "The Golden Music of Horst Koehler" and "Music of Nations."
His programs were so successful that the owners of the station, the brothers Gibsons, made him Vice-President and offered him the position of Program Director, and in 1956 Koehler quit his job with the "Courier" to devote himself to broadcasting. Paid on commission, he found with time that the increasing popularity of Rock and Roll was affecting his income. It was also interfering with his position as Program Director, as he was having difficulty adjusting to the new music trend. He therefore left CKLG for CJOR, where he continued his program "The Golden Music of Horst Koehler," which offered music from all of Europe. At the same time, the program offered reports from Germany, economic reports as well as the latest European news and gossip. Noting the continuous high ratings Koehler's program was receiving, Gordon Reed, President of KVOS, Channel 12 in Bellingham, Washington, asked him to test try television. His one hour trial run proving successful, Koehler started in television. "The Horst Koehler Show" concentrated on different tourist destinations, with Koehler getting most of his film material from the different airlines.
Noting his success south of the border, Canadian stations approached him and asked him to present the same show in Vancouver, over Channel 8. As he could no longer get his films from the airlines, Koehler had to travel to obtain his film material. To facilitate this, he established International Broadcasting Productions Limited. With the support of his wife, and in co-operation with the different airlines, he travelled to different parts of the world to shoot his film footage. He then cut the film material as needed, copied the films either by himself or with the help of his wife, who also collected information for whatever scripts were needed and also carried out other work necessary. Koehler prepared material for some 26 broadcasts a year, which were then taken over by the CTV network to be shown in different urban centres across Canada.
Between 1970 and 1972, Horst Koehler also produced "The New Country - A Portrait of German Canadians," a film on Germans in Canada. For the CTV network program "University of the Air," he produced the series "Guten Tag," to help beginners learn German. When cable television was introduced in Vancouver, Koehler started producing "German Diary," a weekly 30 minute broadcast offering films, local reports and interviews. The program was eventually also picked up by other stations in different parts of Canada. Koehler also produced "Continental Diary," another weekly program that was taken up by some 20 different stations across Canada.
In addition to his regular work, Koehler participated in German Canadian life and in the larger Canadian community. He helped to found the German Canadian Business Association of Vancouver and for a number of years served as President of the British Columbia Branch of the Trans-Canada Alliance of German Canadians. He was very active in the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews. In 1973, he was appointed to the Canadian Consultative Council on Multiculturalism. For the last six years of his membership on the Council, he served as its Pacific Regional Chairman.
In recognition of his different services, Koehler received the Canada Centennial Medal in 1967. In 1978, he received the Silver-Jubilee Medal. In 1980, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada.
