Coral Andrews

Coral Andrews has been a passionate and accomplished supporter of the arts in Waterloo Region for over 50 years. She graduated from Eastwood Collegiate and attended post secondary school at Conestoga College earning accreditation in Journalism in 1979.

Coral’s work history always included journalism in various media as she engaged with musicians, actors and other artists and arts professionals. In her early days, she balanced paying jobs that allowed her to pursue opportunities in her media work. Coral’s byline appeared in many publications including
Saturday Night, Take One, Graffiti, and Harrowsmith.  Articles in regional Publications have included the Kitchener-Waterloo Record, The Music Express, Grand Magazine, and Samaritan Magazine.  In 2023, Coral published a non-fiction memoir, The Back Door, a chronicle of the musicians, artists and personalities that were part of Kitchener’s underground subculture of the 1970s to the 1990s. In 2016, Coral began her work in community radio at station 985 CKWR.

A letter of support said that Coral Andrews amplified the voices of musicians, arts advocates, and local organizations, all connected to and through music. What set Coral apart was not just her radio on-air support, but her personal investment in the community. Another noted that Coral’s work as a media professional allowed her to contribute to the public’s awareness of the artists who live and work in Waterloo Region. The hours she spent attending performances and events had given her an encyclopedic knowledge of all the talented creative artists who have emerged locally.

There is significant evidence of the importance that the culture sector plays within communities to achieve prosperity and wellbeing. Leaders show up with integrity to enable others to accomplish something they couldn’t do on their own. Coral Andrews has played an important leadership role at the grass roots level to build the cornerstones of the infrastructure of the creative arts community in Waterloo Region.  We are pleased to welcome Coral Andrews to the Waterloo Region Hall of Fame.