Imagine working in a professional role and still performing with the same clever, energetic, and enthusiastic fervour with which you began your career some 43 years ago. That is exactly what Jim Tatti is doing each and every day as one of Canada’s foremost sports broadcasters and commentators. Born in Hamilton (Joseph Brant Hospital had not been built) and raised in Burlington, Jim, as a teenager, became an avid sports fan, listening to Tiger-Cat games, attending Burlington Mohawks Junior B games at Central arena and was a devoted follower of Hockey Night in Canada on CBC. 

Jim attended Burlington Central High School then enrolled in the Communication Arts program at Mohawk College. Fortunately for Jim, while attending Mohawk College he crossed paths with Hamilton’s legendary sports announcer, Norm Marshall. Jim was greatly influenced by Norm and he committed to keep in touch regularly with “his teacher, mentor, and friend” until his passing in 2008. And, he did. Jim got his career going at CHNR in Simcoe as a news/sportscaster. From there he went to CHAM in Hamilton and made a quick transition from newscaster to their Sports Director, then to CJCH Radio in Halifax as Sports Director and months later moved down the hall to CJCH TV. He eventually returned to Southern Ontario as a sportscaster on CITY TV in Toronto. Along the way, Jim became the On-Air Host of a midmorning show at The Fan’ and ‘NHL Home Ice’ on XM Satellite Radio. He also co-hosted ‘Golf Talk Canada’ every Saturday morning. After a 6 year run at TSN1050 in Toronto, he is currently the host of “Tatti and Louie B” on TSN1150 Hamilton 3-7 Monday to Friday and is the pregame/postgame host for Tiger-Cats Football on TSN 1150 and Maple Leafs Hockey on the TSN Leafs Radio Network. By the way, Jim helped launch both TSN stations.

Jim Tatti is recognized as a pioneer in the sports media industry. For 23 years he was the popular host of ‘Sportsline’ on Global TV, Canada’s first half-hour sports highlight show which was to become the gold standard in sports television. He was appointed to the role of Sports Director and manager of ‘Sportsline’. It is worth noting that at this time this format was original and did not exist at any other station in the country. It has now been emulated by stations all over the world. Jim has hired and mentored over 50 people who have gone on to develop their own distinguished presence in the field of sports media.

He has volunteered generously over the years at literally hundreds of events and on numerous occasions, he has been the host of the annual Global TV Sports/Community Living Golf Tournament; the Conn Smythe/Easter Seals Celebrity Sports Dinner; the Altamira Charitable Golf Tournament; the Burlington Sport Alliance Awards Celebration and much more. Each year since 2010 Jim donates $500 to Mohawk College to provide a scholarship to an aspiring Broadcast Journalist. For many years he has taught Sports journalism courses at both Centennial and Mohawk Colleges. He is currently back at Mohawk teaching a new Sports Radio course.

Jim is renowned as an individual with impeccable integrity, credibility, passion, vigour, and an unwavering commitment to excellence in his field. The Burlington Sports Hall of Fame is pleased and proud to include Jim Tatti in the Class of 2018.