The retired reporter George Garrett joins Joseph Planta to discuss the Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society, George’s storied career at CKNW, as well as the many people he’s worked with and covered over the years (including Rafe Mair, Bill Vander Zalm, E. Davie Fulton, Philip Till, John Ashbridge, Jack Webster, and more).

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, at TheCommentary.ca.

One of the delights of doing this show the last number of years has been the luxury of being able to talk to the people I’d like. And then you get to know and be friends with people with whom you have admired—that’s such a great gift. I was mulling what to do to mark the fifteenth anniversary of the program, and rather than put together clips from past shows, I thought I’d rather do something I’d really like to do and that’s invite George Garrett back and just sit and chat about his distinguished career in this town as a reporter. A lot of his life story will be published in the spring, and it’ll be a book that will narrate his remarkable life and career, some over forty years at radio station CKNW, where he burnished a reputation as one of British Columbia’s most trusted reporters. George Garrett has twice been honoured by the BC Association of Broadcasters, including receiving their lifetime achievement award, an honour he’s also received from the Radio and Television News Directors of Canada. He received the Bruce Hutchison Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jack Webster Foundation. George was last on the program last year when our old friend Rafe Mair died. His first book, The Life and Times of Lighthouse McNeil was published in 2016. He also works regularly for Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society. Visit www.volunteercancerdrivers.ca for more information on how to donate to this worthwhile organisation. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program; Mr. Garrett, good morning.

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