Gordon Lightfoot Forums - View Single Post - Pete McGarvey-Orillia broadcaster in Orillia

charlene · 06-09-2014, 09:02 PM

http://www.orilliapacket.com/2014/06...loved-son-says

Family, friends, radio broadcasters and a Canadian icon packed the Leacock Museum Sunday afternoon to say farewell to James A. “Pete” McGarvey.

“It’s sometimes hard to talk about these things, but I guess if one has to celebrate a life, it was as good a send-off as one can imagine for a parent,” Will McGarvey said Monday. “It makes you feel good. In amongst the sorrow, it’s good to feel the joy that somebody’s touched that many people.”

About 200 people celebrated the life of McGarvey, who died March 10 at the age of 86. The crowd included Orillia-born folk musician Gordon Lightfoot along with radio and television journalists Tayler “Hap” Parnaby, Ken “Jiggs” McDonald, Dick Smyth, Bud Riley and Randy Richmond.

“There were a lot of colleagues of Dad’s from over the years,” Will said.

McGarvey’s career in Ontario radio spanned more than 50 years beginning in Orillia as a CFOR radio broadcaster in 1947.

From 1965 to 1973, he was news director of CFCO Chatham. He switched to CKEY Toronto in August 1973 as a featured newscaster and commentator.

While in Orillia, McGarvey led the charge to save Stephen Leacock’s summer home from demolition and he co-founded the Mariposa Folk Festival in 1961.

Personal tales related to these accomplishments and other moments in McGarvey’s life were shared during the celebration of life.

Speakers talked about him “giving selflessly of time and all those things that people really appreciated,” Will said. “Everybody really enjoyed, I think, hearing the different elements of Dad’s life.”

The celebration of life was attended by McGarvey’s oldest childhood friend and by people who knew of him, but never met him, Will said.

“Everybody thoroughly loved him,” he said.

Parnaby told the story of how McGarvey helped start his career.

Parnaby attended Orillia District Collegiate and Vocational Institute and started going across the street to visit the folks at CFOR.

“He started going over there and hanging out and then eventually got up and said, ‘Well, I’d like to do this. Will you hire me?’” Will said, recalling Parnaby’s stories.

McGarvey hired Parnaby when he was 13 years old.

“He told some of those stories,” Will said. “It was just great nostalgia.”

06-09-2014, 09:02 PM	#5
charlene Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 16,004	Re: Pete McGarvey-Orillia broadcaster in Orillia http://www.orilliapacket.com/2014/06...loved-son-says Family, friends, radio broadcasters and a Canadian icon packed the Leacock Museum Sunday afternoon to say farewell to James A. “Pete” McGarvey. “It’s sometimes hard to talk about these things, but I guess if one has to celebrate a life, it was as good a send-off as one can imagine for a parent,” Will McGarvey said Monday. “It makes you feel good. In amongst the sorrow, it’s good to feel the joy that somebody’s touched that many people.” About 200 people celebrated the life of McGarvey, who died March 10 at the age of 86. The crowd included Orillia-born folk musician Gordon Lightfoot along with radio and television journalists Tayler “Hap” Parnaby, Ken “Jiggs” McDonald, Dick Smyth, Bud Riley and Randy Richmond. “There were a lot of colleagues of Dad’s from over the years,” Will said. McGarvey’s career in Ontario radio spanned more than 50 years beginning in Orillia as a CFOR radio broadcaster in 1947. From 1965 to 1973, he was news director of CFCO Chatham. He switched to CKEY Toronto in August 1973 as a featured newscaster and commentator. While in Orillia, McGarvey led the charge to save Stephen Leacock’s summer home from demolition and he co-founded the Mariposa Folk Festival in 1961. Personal tales related to these accomplishments and other moments in McGarvey’s life were shared during the celebration of life. Speakers talked about him “giving selflessly of time and all those things that people really appreciated,” Will said. “Everybody really enjoyed, I think, hearing the different elements of Dad’s life.” The celebration of life was attended by McGarvey’s oldest childhood friend and by people who knew of him, but never met him, Will said. “Everybody thoroughly loved him,” he said. Parnaby told the story of how McGarvey helped start his career. Parnaby attended Orillia District Collegiate and Vocational Institute and started going across the street to visit the folks at CFOR. “He started going over there and hanging out and then eventually got up and said, ‘Well, I’d like to do this. Will you hire me?’” Will said, recalling Parnaby’s stories. McGarvey hired Parnaby when he was 13 years old. “He told some of those stories,” Will said. “It was just great nostalgia.”