Doc Harris, 76, on Oct. 5 in Vancouver General Hospital. Born Gilbert Auchinleck, Harris used several monikers on-air over the years, starting his broadcasting career in 1966 as “Gil Harris” at CKDA and CFMS-FM Victoria. From there, stops at CJAT Trail, BC, CKOM Saskatoon, CKSO Sudbury and CHAM Hamilton followed. He made his on-air debut in Toronto on CFTR as “Doc Holiday” in 1971, before returning to the West Coast and CKLG Vancouver in 1973, where he initially was heard as “Gil” and by 1976, “Doc Harris.” Holding roles across programming, music direction, and helming the morning show, after an 11-year run with the station, Harris moved on to CFMI-FM Vancouver in 1984, followed by CKKS-FM, CFUN, and an almost decade-long stint doing fill-in on CKNW. Harris was last heard in various dayparts on CISL Vancouver, up until 2007, and as the co-host of weekly feature Dan Gardener’s Automotive Intelligence. Concurrently, he lent his voice to animated series like Dragon Ball Z, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Monster Rancher, and John Candy vehicle Camp Candy, as well as video games, including Hulk and Aegis Defenders. Read more here.
Bob Derro, 66, on Oct. 5, following a brain aneurysm. “Brother” Bob Derro was well known in Sudbury, Ottawa and throughout the Valley for his warm, personable, kind and engaging on-air presence. Born and raised in Sudbury, Derro had an early start to his 40+ year career while still in high school. He began as a cameraman at CKNC-TV in Sudbury, circa 1974, moving over to CHNO-AM a year later as a swing announcer. In 1985, Derro crossed the hall from CHNO to join the on-air staff at CJMX-FM. He and his family would pull up stakes in 1989 to make the move to Ottawa where he joined CFRA Radio. In 2001, Bob landed at CIWW Oldies 1310 Smiths Falls. He returned to the Ottawa airwaves in 2011 as the morning show host at Jewel 98.5 (CJWL-FM.) His career also included voiceover work for radio and television as well as for private clients.
George Johns, 83, on Oct. 3. Born in Winnipeg, Johns is credited as being one of the pioneers behind Adult Contemporary radio. Following an early foray into music that saw him record with bands like The Jury, The Devines and The Phantoms, his radio career started in the 1970s as a program director at stations including CKOM Saskatoon, CKSO Sudbury, CFRA Ottawa, and CFTR Toronto. By the end of the decade, he had moved stateside, rising to National Program Director of Fairbanks Broadcasting, overseeing WIBC and WNAP Indianapolis, KVIL Dallas/Fort Worth, WVBF and WKOX Boston, WIBG Philadelphia, and WRMF and WJNO Palm Beach. Johns also helped develop nationally syndicated promotion, “Magic Ticket.” He went on to become a principal in stations in Portland, Indianapolis and Milwaukee. In the 1990s, he consulted at stations throughout North America, under the umbrella of The Johns Company, before merging with Fairwest, a syndicator of “Music Of Your Life” and Continuous Country Formats.
Garnet Behnke, 83, on Oct. 2. Originally hailing from Blind River, ON, Behnke was the longtime Chief Controller at Cambrian Broadcasting, including Sudbury’s CKSO-TV, AM and FM, and CIGM-FM. He later took on the additional role of Assistant General Manager. Earning his professional accounting designation, while raising three young children and working at Ontario Hydro, Behnke also took on business ventures over the years, including Mr. Snappy Foods, Roller Country and Vitto Brand Foods.
