SIGN-OFFS:
Kelly Duncan, 84, Dec. 19 at Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver. Born in New Zealand, Duncan arrived in Vancouver in 1955 and was a pioneer in the film and video industry. The longtime resident of West Vancouver was a cameraman and cinematographer, spending many years at CBC Vancouver. In the 1960s, he was a cinematographer on the CBC television series Cariboo Country. An award-winning “storyteller on film,” Kelly worked on hundreds of productions for international clients, often travelling worldwide. He was a longtime member of the Canadian Society of Cinematographers and won ‘Bessie’ awards from the Television Bureau of Canada for Best Achievement in Commercials Cinematography in both 1970 and 1973.
Dick Trotter, 79, Dec. 27 in Port Perry, ON after a brief illness. Trotter spent most of his early career in sports. In the 1960s he did play-by-play for the OHL’s Oshawa Generals, which led to a stint calling games for the Detroit Red Wings short-lived minor league affiliate in Virginia. From there he found his way to Peterborough and worked in local radio and television, building a reputation as one of the best race callers in standardbred horse racing. By 1965, Trotter was general manager at CKLB-FM/CKQS-FM Oshawa, leaving in 1968 for CHIN-FM Toronto. In the early 1980s, Dick was hired by CKWS-TV Kingston to read the sports on the six o’clock news and to be the track announcer at Kingston Park Raceway. He became the permanent evening news anchor after anchor David Green, who was in his 30s, passed away suddenly of a massive heart attack. Trotter retired in 1993 and made an attempt at resurrecting Kingston Park Raceway.
Stuart Hamilton, 87, on Jan. 1 after a 10-year battle with prostate cancer. Born in Regina, SK, Hamilton was a legendary vocal coach, broadcaster, pianist, artistic director and producer. In 1974, he founded Opera in Concert and was its Artistic Director until 1994. In 1982, CBC producer Robert Cooper invited Hamilton to become Quiz Master of the CBC’s Saturday Afternoon at the Opera, a post he held until his retirement in 2007. He also appeared regularly as a panelist and occasional guest Quiz Master on the Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts from New York City at Lincoln Center. His knowledge of repertoire, voices and style made him an “in demand” lecturer and adjudicator. He was made a member of the Order of Canada in 1984, won the Toronto Arts Award in 1989, received the Governor General’s Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Confederation in 1992, the first Ruby Award from Opera Canada in 2000 and the Beckmesser Award from the Los Angeles Opera in 2004. He received an honorary doctorate from Dalhousie University in 2008 and most recently was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. His book Opening Windows: Confessions of a Canadian Vocal Coach is an engaging account of his life in music.
Thomas William Harpur, 87, Jan. 2 in Lion’s Head, ON. The Reverend “Tom” Harpur was an author, broadcaster, columnist, theologian and ordained Anglican priest. Born in Toronto’s east end, Harpur worked as a journalist at the Toronto Star for 30 years, 12 as the newspaper’s religion editor and then as a regular columnist. The Rhodes Scholar wrote numerous books on religion and theology, 10 of which became Canadian bestsellers and two of which were made into TV series for VisionTV. He hosted his own television show Harpur’s Heaven and Hell and a variety of radio and TV programs on the topic of religion. He also appeared as a frequent commentator on religious news events on CBC and other Canadian networks. In 1996, his bestseller Life After Death on near-death experiences was turned into a 10-episode TV series hosted by Harpur himself, which aired on VisionTV, CityTV and The Learning Channel. Harpur’s 2004 book The Pagan Christ was named the Canadian non-fiction bestseller of the year by the Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail. The 2008 CBC documentary of the same name, based on Harpur’s book, won the Platinum Remi Award at the Houston International Film Festival and the Gold Camera Award at the U.S. International Film and Video Festival.
Don Lindsay, 68, on Jan. 6, in Grande Prairie, after a short battle with cancer. Lindsay started in radio as a DJ almost right out of high school in the late 1960s at CFGP-FM. With a passion for rock n’ roll from the 1950s and 60s, he helped bring acts to the Grande Prairie area including Bobby Curtola and Anne Murray. He eventually moved into sales, establishing himself as a well-respected rep for CJDC-AM and CJDC-TV Dawson Creek where he worked for nearly 20 years until his retirement two years ago. Don was well-known for his community involvement, including his dedication to local theatre.
Larry Langley, 83, on Jan. 10. The former Edmonton city councillor and longtime CBC broadcaster was born in Saskatoon, SK, and worked as a teacher before starting his broadcasting career in 1956. Larry joined CFQC-TV Saskatoon as an announcer, moving on to WHTV and CBC Whitehorse, CHEK-TV in Victoria and CFCN TV and radio in Calgary. He moved to Edmonton in 1965 to continue his career with CBC Edmonton as a host, anchor and weatherman. Langley worked in both radio and television there for 28 years before retiring in 1993. He successfully ran for Edmonton city council two years later, representing Ward 5 for nine years. After his retirement from council in 2004, Langley continued to sit on various city boards.
