Over the last few weeks I have covered a lot of ground in two countries and kept the airlines busy with frequent flying miles as I returned from Arizona and visited Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary while working on a major project in radio with the highlight being running in to a bunch of Edmonton city folk in each and every city.
First off I literally bumped into the former President of NAIT Dr. Sam Shaw, in the Westin Ottawa Hotel lobby. Sam is now working in Calgary and he looked great and is enjoying his new challenge immensely. Sam was huge in our community and it was fun to briefly reconnect.
Then it was off to dinner with ex Team 1260 play by play guy AJ Jacubec who is now working for Team 1200.
A brief coffee with former radio pal Brian DePoe was enjoyable too. Brian helped me launch CJAX Radio (now Joe FM) in the early 80's, and he is now with CHUM/CTV. Brian's brother is high profile city lawyer D'Arcy DePoe.
In Toronto, and relatively new to the city, I chatted with Cory Balash, who used to be at the Bounce here. Cory also is enjoying life with his wife in the big smoke and working at Virgin Radio.
In Calgary long time former Power 92 (Joe FM) announcer Chad Martin (Pog) is now programming three of Astral's properties in Cowtown. He holds the reins on my brother Gerry's over the top CJAY morning show.
In Vancouver it was nice to reconnect with ex CHED alumni Brad Phillips who runs both Virgin and CISL radio stations there. Brad is also is in charge of Astral's other provincial radio and tv holdings.
Last month another two guys with CHED connections, both current and past, came down to Arizona to visit me for a week.
Daryl Hooke, Keith James Jr and Troy Bowler (Astral Edm) enjoyed a nice break from the cold and hit Sedona on a perfect day with sunshine and 78f temps.
I also bumped into a ton of locals at the Oilers/Coyotes game last month in Glendale and it was great to enjoy a few minutes of sun/fun with Bob Stauffer, Jack Michaels, Rod Phillips, Bryan Hall, the Wilkes Brothers and several of their Corus Radio clients including Northlands Jonathan Huntington, Kortech's Jerry Korchinski and Newwest Travels Dennis Laliberte, who all came down for the game.
In other related Edmonton media news I'm sorry to see Giselle Sowa eased out the door at Rogers new acquisition, The Bounce. Giselle was the General Manager of the station that has now merged with Sonic FM and she has a long history in Edmonton radio.
Another CHED alumni, and former Northlands guy, Randy Kilburn has just given up his Alberta plates to join Jet FM in Courtney, BC. (Vista)
Congrat's to Global TV's crazy weather lady Nicola Crosbie for her double duty shift over to Capital FM after EZ Rock flipped to Virgin FM a few weeks ago. Congratulations also to Global big wig GM Tim Spellisy for his recognition by the Radio and Television News Directors Association.
Also "welcome back" to Pepper and Dylan at Virgin Radio, the former EZ Rock. Morning man Rob Pepper and I are distant relatives as my late father Jerry Forbes was a cousin to Rob's Grandfather Bruce Dodd. Some of my best childhood memories came at their farm in Innisfail, Ab.
Jason Roberts has landed on his feet after the EZ flip and is now doing mornings on UP 99.3. His co host will be named shortly. Dan Hunt and Jamie O'Connell are no longer with the station.
It's always great to hook up with Edmonton pals wherever they may be!
Finally thanks for all the good wishes for my daughter Rayanne who went through successful surgery two weeks ago at the U of A Hospital. She's on the road to recovery for which we are very thankful.
Marty Forbes is the President of Radiowise Inc, and reachable at mforbes07@shaw.ca, and on Twitter as @MJForbes.
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