Dick Smyth retired from Toronto broadcasting in 1997 but remains well known both there and in Muskoka, where he now lives.

He had a 30 year career with CHUM, CITY-TV, CFTR, 680 News, CHFI, CFMT-TV and the Toronto Sun.

Prior to that he had spent 13 years at CKLW Windsor.

After retiring, he spent a year freelancing with CFRB Toronto. Until recently he appeared daily on AM640 and is now doing a daily commentary on Muskoka Information Radio 102.3FM .

A collection of his writing was published by McClelland and Stewart in 1984.

He is well known as a radio and television commentator. In 1995-96, he was the co-host of Chronicle, a daily hour-long public affairs show heard across the country. While with CHUM, he co-anchored the CHUM National news, the first national newscast by a private radio network in Canada.

Smyth has been honoured with several awards for news coverage and editorials. He was the first Canadian to win the International Award of the Radio Television News Directors Association for his coverage of the 1967 Detroit riot. He has won the Sam Ross Editorial award in Central Canada a record six years. He was nominated three times for the Gordon Sinclair Award for outspoken opinion and integrity in broadcasting. His documentary on South Africa won a gold medal at the 1993 New York Radio Festival. In 1992, the Radio Television News Directors Association of Canada presented him with the President's Award, given annually to a Canadian broadcaster for outstanding contributions to the industry. At his retirement dinner, he was cited as “a Canadian broadcasting giant, a legend, a true original.”

Smyth has travelled extensively and is a popular speaker.

He is a native of Montreal where he attended Loyola College. He met his wife Marilyn on his first radio job in Cornwall Ontario. They have been happily married since 1955. The Smyths have three daughters, two granddaughters and two cats. His interests outside broadcasting include photography, chess and wine making. He loves opera as passionately as his wife hates it. His boats are named LaBoheme, Tosca and Figaro. (Figaro is the canoe.) Their two cats are Mimi and Rudolfo (Rudi.) Both share a passion for Muskoka.

Smyth is a past president of the Windsor Press Club and of the Radio Television News Directors Association of Canada. He served as a municipal councillor in the former town of Riverside Ontario (now part of Windsor.) He is a member of the Conference of Editorial Writers and of the Half Century Club of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters.