Warren Barker, 92, on June 15. Originally from Okotoks, AB, Barker’s broadcast career began at CJCA Edmonton in 1947 at the age of 18. The young broadcaster made stops at CKRD Red Deer and CKDA Victoria, before landing at CKNW New Westminster in 1952. Barker initially joined the station as a back-up host for CKNW founder Bill Rea on the program “Ranger’s Cabin,” but by the following year had joined the newsroom and by 1959 was promoted to news director. Barker went on to hold the position for the next 32 years, building the newsroom’s reputation for both competitive news coverage and developing young journalism talent. Barker retired in 1991, but continued to contribute as an editorial commentator. He received the Bruce Hutchison Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding contribution to journalism in British Columbia in 1993 from the Jack Webster Foundation, and was inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) Hall of Fame in 1998. Barker was inducted into the Radio Television Digital News Association of Canada (RTDNA) Hall of Fame in 2003. Read more here.
David Larsen, 62, on June 11, after a battle with cancer. Larsen’s career in radio started at age 19, working in Squamish, BC where he was heard on three different stations under three different on-air handles. Larsen went on to work in Lethbridge and Calgary, before landing at SILK FM (CILK-FM) Kelowna as program director where he also put together a successful morning show that he co-hosted for the next eight years alongside Tony Peyton and Kelly Abbott Church. Larsen eventually left to join Rogers Radio in Vancouver and Chilliwack, before he and Peyton reunited in 2009, reigniting their morning show on K96.3 (CKKO-FM) for a decade, up until Peyton’s retirement in 2019. Larsen subsequently joined JACK 103.1 (CHTT-FM) Victoria as PD for the brand re-launch in the market and morning show co-host. Read more here.
