SIGN-OFFS:
Neil Macrae, 65, Mar. 30, of cancer, at his home in Palm Springs. Macrae started out in radio in 1969 working nights at CJVI-AM Victoria, moving on to sports and hosting stints at CHWK-FM Chilliwack, CKWX-AM Vancouver and CJOR-AM Vancouver before landing at CKNW NewsTalk 980 in 1983. Macrae became legendary as part of the Frosty Forst morning show with his biting editorials and wasn’t afraid to play the role of radio villain. Along the way there were high profile on-air battles with Vancouver Canucks general manager Brian Burke and the team’s current owner Francesco Aquilini, among others. Macrae continued as a sports presence on CKNW until 2012, ending his radio career in 2013 with the cancellation of his sports comment on Rock 101 (CFMI-FM). Married to Laurie Rix, the couple also ran The Rix Family Foundation, donating to charities and universities across Canada.
Bill Gibson, Mar. 16. Hailing from Granville Ferry, NS, Gibson was in sales with the CHUM Group in Halifax in the 1970s. He went on to work in broadcasting in other Canadian markets, becoming a motivational speaker and trainer working out of Johannesburg, South Africa.
Harold Hamilton, 88, Mar. 23 in Victoria after a brief illness. Hamilton was known as the Voice of the Great Prairie West during his 24 years as a news anchor at CKCK-AM radio and television in Regina. He retired to B.C. in 1990.
Dave McCormick, Mar. 29, following a lengthy illness. Big Daddy, as he was known on-air, got his start in radio in Hamilton at age 14. He made the move to CFUN-AM Vancouver in 1957 as a DJ, music director and assistant program director. From there, radio took McCormick to KYNO-AM Fresno, KOL (KKOL-AM) Seattle and KMEN-AM San Bernardino. He returned to Vancouver in the early 1970s, first at CKNW-AM and then at sister station CFMI-FM where he created the long-running Discumentary program, which ran from 1971-86. He later hosted afternoon drive at CJJR-FM Vancouver from 1986-98 and then middays at sister station CKBD-AM until 2008. He spent the last few years of his career as a host at CISL-AM Vancouver. McCormick’s accolades included BC Broadcaster of the Year and four-time winner of the BC Country Music Association’s Country Broadcaster of the Year. He was inducted into the BC Country Music Association Hall of Fame in 1998.
Evelyn Harper, 97, Mar. 21. Harper was a longtime CBC Vancouver employee, starting out in 1939 as a stenographer in the Farms & Fisheries Department. She worked her way up the ranks to production assistant and in 1970 became a program commentator with Agriculture and Resources.
Mario Loreto, 82, on Apr. 3 after a long journey with Alzheimer’s disease. Loreto was an avid salesperson with CKGB-FM Timmins, ON, starting with the station in 1967 and staying through various ownership changes until his retirement in 1996. Always upbeat, Mario is well-remembered locally for stepping into the role of Santa on the station every year on the Talk To Santa show, which aired for 15 minutes every day leading up to Christmas.
