Hundreds gather to remember Leigh Chapple

CTV Ottawa: Saying goodbye to Leigh Chapple Katie Griffin reports on the farewell gathering for a former CTV Ottawa anchor.

The snow and freezing rain didn’t stop hundreds of people from attending a memorial honouring one of our own Sunday. Leigh Chapple was Ottawa's queen of late-night TV and a fixture of CTV Ottawa for more than 30 years...her life and legacy were celebrated in Ottawa’s Little Italy neighbourhood.

“We really had no idea how overwhelmingly people would respond, hundreds and hundreds….just an outpouring and it was very touching,” said Chapple’s brother-in-law Barry Blake.

“I don’t think there will ever be a news anchor like her who delivers the news with such warmth and compassion and authority as Leigh did,” said CTV Ottawa 6 p.m. producer John Ruttle.

Chapple passed away unexpectedly at home on Dec. 10 of natural causes.

“[She was] giving, just warm, caring, as I said very much part of our community,” said Sue O’Sullivan, Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime. “She will be missed and she will not be forgotten.”

“Anytime I was interviewed by her or was on the show what I always found about her was that she was firm but fair,” said Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson.

Chapple got her big break in the news business from Max Keeping, who hired her as his assistant until a reporting job came along.

“She was phenomenal in working with others, she had infinite patience and she mentored all of us," said Keeping. "She taught every junior reporter who came through. She taught the senior reporter too."

Chapple retired in May 2012 to spend more time with her husband and former CTV Ottawa editor Dean Holmes.

For those wishing to do so, donations may be made in Chapple’s name to the Ottawa Humane Society, the Heart & Stroke Foundation, or a charity of your choice.

With a report from CTV’s Katie Griffin