Daryl Ferguson: Celebrating 45-years in radio

The Pass Herald has an excellent tribute (not available on-line) to CJPR icon Daryl Ferguson in this week's edition of their newspaper.

Lindsay Goss photo

Lindsay Goss - Pass Herald Reporter

Celebrating 45-years in radio

It was a bittersweet celebration at the Blairmore Legion on Friday, Oct 19th, as members of the Crowsnest Pass came to honour the retirement of Daryl Ferguson, after 40 years at CJPR and a 45-year career in radio.

Around 50 family members, friends and co-workers of Ferguson came to the event that included live music by country band Hey Romeo and an open microphone for family, friends and co-workers to give him their final words.

"It's been interesting," said Ferguson. "Looking at where we were when we started to where we are now is incredible."

Ferguson started in radio at CJOC in Lethbridge in 1967, while still in high school, as a part-time board operator. The following year, Ferguson was hired full-time as all night on air personality and to set up remotes. In 1969, he was made Music and Promotions Director. He also helped out in the copy, creative and traffic departments, while learning all aspects of the radio business.

In August of 1972, Ferguson moved to the Crowsnest Pass with his wife, Anita and their two children, Christopher and Lisa, after Daryl was made supervisor of the new AM radio station CPJR, the same year the radio station was first put on air.
Ferguson was later made the manager of the station, which was then owned by Selkirk Holdings.

The station was bought and sold many times, and during one ownership, Ferguson ran the station as manager, on air person, and worked with copy, traffic, sales and engineering.

Although the Pass now feels like home, it didn't always feel that way for the Ferguson family.

After moving to the Crowsnest Pass, Ferguson and his family would return to Lethbridge almost every weekend, as they missed friends and their old home-town. He described first living here as "hard."

However, as time went on, their trips eastbound became more and more seldom.
"The area is very unique. It grows on you. People are honest, they will talk to you and once they get to know you, it's a very friendly area to live," Ferguson said.

Work life aside, Ferguson was, and still is, extremely involved in the community. He worked with the Advertising and Promotions Committee Alberta Winter Games in 1988
and was involved with the PowderKeg Ski Hill Executive to get the hill's first T-bar in 1982. He was on the Ski Authority from 1982 to 2006, and ran the ski hill concession from 1986 to 2001. Ferguson was on the Alberta Board of Directors for Ski Jumping Alberta and helped coach his son Christopher and Gunther Koci to make the Ski Jumping Alberta team and then saw Christopher go on to the Canadian National team. He was on the Blairmore Fire Department for 15 years and the Crowsnest Pass Rescue Squad for 14 and is still currently a member. He was an EMR for the Crowsnest Pass ambulance and served on the Community Advisory Committee from 1966 to 1999. He was a part of the Blairmore Lions Club and was involved with hockey as an executive member, coach, referee and a member of the Disciplinary Committee. He was a Swim Club Executive and a Crowsnest Pass Quad Squad Executive. He was on the Rum Runner Committee, announcer for the Elkford Dog Sled Races, was an announcer for the Elkford Triathlon and a parade marshal for numerous years. Ferguson was on the Ducks Unlimited Committee and volunteered as a cook on Fridays at the Blairmore Legion. He was also a Judge for the Crowsnest Pass Idol Contest for the past two years and was on the Crowsnest Pass Chamber of Commerce board for four years and chaired the Chamber Trade Show for a number of years.

Ferguson has won the Citizen of the Year in 1991, was recognized by the Alberta Junior Hockey Association in 2003, received a certificate of appreciation from the Community Advisory Committee. He was one out of 100 Albertans to receive an Alberta Hockey Centennial Award and was recognized by the Lethbridge Hurricanes for promoting hockey in Southern Alberta and in 1988, he received an Olympic torch metal.

Ferguson said that although it is sad to re¬tire from his career in radio, he is excited to experience all the time off his retirement will (note: article ends here?)


Comment: I've known Daryl Ferguson since first moving to the Pass some 18 years ago. In fact, he was one of the first people I met and took a liking to.

In the article above Daryl says, "He described first living here as 'hard.'" Well it was hard for me too, but Daryl remembering his beginnings here, I'm thinking, went out of his way at times to make things a little easier by always being a friendly face, willing to chat, and make one feel like they belonged. I'll never forget his kindness in this regard.

Daryl, in my mind, is a class act who I have always admired for both his dedication to this community and his volunteerism, which I suggest is second to none here.

'Enjoy' your retirement Daryl. You earned it! But knowing you, even in retirement you will still be active doing what you do best and what this community has grown to expect and appreciate in you. Always being there, giving it your all, while expecting nothing in return.


UPDATE: Oct.31/12)
I forgot to mention something that I 'enjoyed' doing every year, for several years, thanks to Daryl, and that was serving as one of his parade marshal's during Rum Runner Days. Great group of guys to work with and lunch afterwards always made one feel special... having served one's community with like-minded people, like Daryl.




Our passions are the most terrible tyrants, and we can be the slave of them. Only self-sacrifice can free us from this slavery.