Memory Lane: Former staff share their fondest moments

Alfred Willis and Bill French in the CKVR control room in the 1960s. (Courtesy: Alfred Willis)

Sixty years of broadcasting means many people have walked the halls of our station here at CTV Barrie. In that time, friendships were made and many memories were crafted by staff. In honour of CKVR’s diamond anniversary, we asked former employees to share those moments with us.

Stephen McIntosh

1980 to 2008 – Junior designer/ Design director

“Working at VR was the best 28 years of my life. It was challenging, creative and so much fun. I don’t ever remember waking up and saying, ‘damn I have to go to work today’. Every day was a different challenge, the perks were outstanding and everyone was part of a team focused on producing the best product possible every day.

I had the opportunity to work on national shows, regional productions and the little business next door’s commercials. I started as a junior designer and finished my career as the design director.

My travels with VR included Whistler (twice), Minneapolis/St. Paul, Ottawa, Sarnia, North Bay and Fredericton, N.B. I played No Stars hockey, (probably 300+ games) participated in the Sultans of Swing golf program and skied for free for 20 years.

Along the way I made some very good friends and I have a ton of memories stored in my silly old brain.

Thank you Mr. Waters for allowing me and my family the privilege of coming along for the ride.”

Richard Provencher

1995 to 1997 – Sports anchor/ Reporter

“My time at CKVR was short, but boy did I pack a lot in those two years. Memories of covering the Colts, high school sports, participating in the Athlete of the Week segments, or shooting hoops with the Raptors are just as vivid now, as they were in 1995. My first ‘home away from home’, I’ll never forget the friendly people of Barrie.

Happy birthday CKVR and here’s to another 60 years."

Michelle Rao

1983 to 1998 - Reporter/ morning & noon anchor

“When I look back at my time at CKVR, it is the people I remember—both the wonderful staff I worked with and the amazing individuals I interviewed over 15 years on the road and in the studio.

It was a privilege to tell their stories—the parents who had the courage to donate their baby’s heart to another child; the elderly woman who survived the 1985 tornado or the Penetanguishene’s own Brian Orser winning a world figure skating championship.

Congratulations on 60 years—here is to 60 more years being part of this great community!"

Bill French

Producer/ director

“Congratulations on 60 years of marvellous history. I started my working career as a telecine operator in 1966 at 19 years of age. What a wonderful learning experience that set the direction for the rest of my life.

Great mentors like Ralph Snelgrove, Jack Mattenley and John Wood created a generation of business and community leaders along with many well-known celebrities.

I had the pleasure of being the Producer/Director of the 1974 Whipper Watson 30 Hour Telethon which also won the Television Station of the year for CKVR.

The station taught me a lot and especially about being involved with your community and making it better. I now have the pleasure of serving my community of Springwater Township."

Elizabeth Irwin

Host/Producer

“In 1986 after co-producing, co-hosting “Farm Insight” with Bob McIntyre and the late Mike Yaworski for two seasons at CKVR, Doug Garroway gave me the prized opportunity to host and produce an afternoon show with a theme of my choosing.

As one of the older staff members along with my buddy Bob - in my early 40s then - I embraced the opportunity to begin what I’ve now been led to believe was possibly the first TV show in Canada to focus specifically on issues related to successful aging. “You’re Getting Better”, co-produced with the wonderful John Gow, lasted from 1986 to 1991 as Janie has suggested.

Happily, Janie joined me two or three seasons into the show as co-host/co-producer lessening significantly the onerous weight of a five day a week airing. YGB garnered two Can Pro awards and eventually appeared in the Maritime ATV market and in western provinces ie Alberta and B. C.

Our show was ended when the CBC affiliation was dropped and CKVR became part of the CHUM/City TV family, if I remember correctly. The show ending was a sad reality for me because the show’s theme was my passion.

I had experienced an immense sense of personal satisfaction working on “You’re Getting Better” as a conduit for community service and public information on the ever-increasing issues of aging .

When the show was cancelled, I stayed on for another few months in various reporting functions then chose to retire from TV work entirely in ’92. I moved to Salt Spring Island, B.C. and ran a B&B for two seasons and in ’95 returned to Ontario to my first, much-loved career that of teaching high school drama which I did for another decade until my retirement."

Keith Radford

Reporter

“Happy Birthday CKVR! Can’t believe it’s been 33 years since I did “Total News” on channel 3. My first on-air television job. I have wonderful memories of the station and of Barrie.”

Suzanne Legue

1981 - 1996 - Reporter / Host

“Congratulations “‘VR”! As the Grateful Dead would say, “what a long strange trip it’s been”. When I started there in 1981 we were still shooting and editing on film (with a big box of Band Aids always kept at the ready beside the old Steenbeck) and we called it B-roll because there actually was an A-roll!

The station produced three newscasts a day and invested heavily in all kinds of innovative local programming. They were the Glory Days (although we didn’t appreciate it at the time) and I will always treasure the terrific memories, outstanding opportunities and the lifelong friends I made.

VR has always been – and remains -- an important thread in the fabric of our community. Happy anniversary to everyone who has been part of the ride."

Lisa Gridley

Programming Department

“I started at ‘VR’ in 1979 when I was 19 years old in the Programming Department. Long before the invention of computers or the internet or Email, my job was to type up (there used to be these machines called typewriters) the program list for the upcoming week, then I had to photocopy many and mail them out to all the TV listing companies across Ontario.

But because we were a CBC affiliate, whenever a programming change came from them, it would come via a Teletex machine….another obsolete piece of equipment. This machine was at the reception area so they would phone me whenever a change came through. I would have to run to reception, run back to my office, type up the change and run it to the control room. It was a good thing I was only 19.

On my lunch hours, I used to love to be in the studio and watch the anchors do the news. I remember one day a bat got into the studio but the news anchor, I can’t remember which one of the ladies it was, didn’t even flinch. She may have ducked slightly once but I marveled at her professionalism.

I also remember staying up all night to help out with the telethons and I remember the sense of comradery that these events created amongst the staff and the sense that we were doing something to help our community.

I fondly remember those years and wish you and all the team the best on your 60 years of TV."