A group of Winnipeg broadcasters is hoping to gather radio colleagues, past and present, to reminisce and reconnect this summer.
Led by Ralph “Racoon” Carney – an alum of CKRC and 1290 AM (CFRW-AM) Winnipeg and more recently Q Country 91.5 FM (CKLQ-FM) and 94.7 Star FM (CKLF-FM) Brandon – a group of volunteers are planning a slate of events, June 12-14, highlighted by the WPG Radio Reunion Gala on the Friday night.
Carney says the gala will include a tribute to the history of Winnipeg radio and pay homage to its legends “lost and living.”
Among those confirmed to attend are longtime CKY 580 personality and Canadian Broadcasting Hall of Famer Don Percy, now 87; CJOB and Global Winnipeg anchor Barry Burns; radio veteran Reg Johns; retired TSN executive producer Paul Graham; former CBC meteorologist John Sauder; and former CHUM Radio Winnipeg Program Director Cam Clark.
In addition to Carney, the reunion committee is rounded out by former CKRC personality Lil Goertzen; veteran announcer and programmer Russ Tyson; Jan Currier (wife of broadcaster Geoff Currier), whose background is in media sales and special events; longtime copywriter and creative director Jackie Harms; and media veterans turned public relations professionals Carolyn Rickey and Amber Anderson.
The event was borne from a luncheon Carney has hosted twice a year for the past decade.
“I’d gather together three or four or five guys I’ve worked with…we’d exchange war stories and what we’ve been doing. That group expanded to about a dozen people and we always talked about ‘it would be nice to see that person’ and none of us are getting any younger,” Carney told Broadcast Dialogue.
The radio reunion sold about 15% of the tickets in the first six days, with interest from around the globe.
“A lot of people started here in Winnipeg and went elsewhere,” said Carney. “We’re going to be celebrating the legends of Winnipeg radio.”
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