by Joy Metcalfe
(click photos to enlarge)

Legendary Vancouver broadcaster Jack Webster.

A NIGHT FOR WEBSTER …

It was truly a fun evening at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver last week at the annual Jack Webster Foundation Awards presentation for outstanding journalism throughout the province.

It was the largest guest count in years, numbering more than 500 dressy attendees. And no wonder. It was the first in person event for the awards since 2019.

Organizers had also introduced a new category and a new way of presentation.

This year, the three finalists in each category were announced during the stand-up cocktail and canape reception. Emcees for the evening were CTV’s Mi-Jung Lee and APTN’s Tina House, who kicked the evening off in grand style.

Spotted among the huge media contingent were Global news director Bupinder Hundal, along with news anchors Sophie Lui and Neetu Garcha, CTV News Director Ethan Faber, and a large group from CHEK TV in Victoria as they won the Bill Good Award, which lead man Rob Germain accepted.

Vancouver Sun and Province editor-in-chief Harold Munro accepted the 2022 Bruce Hutchison Award on behalf of the legendary newsman Stephen Hume.

Glacier Media VP Editorial Kirk La Pointe was on hand to cheer on editor of the Squamish Chief, Jennifer Thuncher, who was presented with the inaugural Shelley Fralic Award, a fitting honor for the late beloved Vancouver Sun columnist …

THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE SPINS …

The last time that Wheel of Fortune’s winsome Vanna White was here on an official visit was to headline the Pacific National Exhibition’s Love-A-Fair lineup.

It was August 1987 and she was so cute – so bubbly and young and happy to be in our fair city.

I was at the press conference for her out at the fair grounds and our town’s top journalistic guns, all male, were terribly rude to her, asking sarcastic questions like how much exercise does she have to do every day to turn those letters, and does she ever make a mistake spelling.

It was embarrassing, and she was so young and so vulnerable.

Well guys, hope you’re still glued to the Wheel because here she is – 35 years later – looking better than ever. And probably has a lot more money in her bank account than you have in yours.

The comely blonde is here this time to headline our newest fundraiser, Big B.C. Bingo on October 1 and 2, which will benefit six B.C .charities – The Variety Club, the Cerebral Palsy Association, CKNW’s Kids Fund, Coast Mental Health, Il Certro, and the West Coast Kids Cancer Foundation.

And it’s all happening at the Coliseum at the PNE…

By the way, others in town with Vanna at the PNE 35 years ago were songstress Nancy Wilson, Dukes of Hazard’s John Schneider, Burton Cumming, BTO, and super guitarist Jose Feliciano …

Former Vancouver mayor and BC premier Gordon Campbell.

A FUNDRAISER FOR THE RANCH …

The Zajac Ranch for Children fundraiser at The Terminal City Club last week also had a record turnout.

Sponsored by the Joanne and Peter Brown Foundation and entitled, “Lunch with a Legend,” (the legend being the irrepressible former B.C. premier Gordon Campbell), the noon hour luncheon attracted a slew of up and coming young men, dressed to the nines. These days the dress code seems to be skinny navy suits, brown leather shoes, no socks!

I hadn’t seen Gordon for some time and was very impressed with his positive outlook and renewed vigor. He looked refreshed, younger than ever and ready to get back in the game. He’s been living on Vancouver Island, but plans to return to the Vancouver area soon.

Gordon was so enthusiastic about his take and ideas on BC politics and where Canada is on the world stage that moderator and president and CEO of the Vancouver Board of Trade, Bridgitte Anderson, didn’t get too much of a chance to ask too many questions. Emcee Howard Blank introduced them and Gordon took it away. With his long history and involvement in BC politics, and his natural enthusiasm for a challenge, he was in great form.

It was a fun afternoon…

A GALA FAREWELL …

It was also a pleasant afternoon at the Celebration of Life for the late Warren Buckley, former head of the BC Pavilion Corporation, held at the Trade & Convention Centre. Owing to Warren’s popularity and his surprise demise, the place was packed.

Norman Stowe of the illustrious Pace Group was there, along with hoteliers Susan Gomez and Steven Peters, CKNW’s John McKitrick with wife Joanne, car racing enthusiast Phil Heard, hospitality’s ageless Ken Evans , former tourism boss and prolific author, Rick Antonson (who’ll have a new book out shortly) and Harbour Ferries‘ tall Graham Clarke, who recently underwent an operation to replace both his knees. He figures it will make him even taller.

You might recall that Graham, who definitely knows all about boats and navigation, was one of the passengers aboard the ill-fated Queen of the North when it sank after hitting Gili Island, some 135 kilometers south of Prince Rupert, with the loss of life of two passengers …

DERBY DAY AT THE TRACKS …

It was impossible to monitor which guest decorator at the recent BC Derby Day at Hastings Racecourse generated the loudest and longest applause, Hockey Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim Robson or former Canuck stars Tony Tanti and Harold Snepsts.

Each was assigned their own featured race at which to greet the winning jockey, trainer, owners and, of course, the victorious thoroughbred race horse. If I had to cast my vote, it would go to Snepsts.

Throughout his NHL career in Vancouver, fans would love to chant “Har-old!” “Har-old!” each time he was on the ice and that same chorus rang out throughout the BC Derby Day …

Still with the sporting life, kudos to the new owner of the BC Lions football team, Amar Doman. When the president of the Futura Corporation purchased the rights to the Lions in August, he vowed to bring back an exciting brand of entertainment for the CFL games played at BC Place Stadium.

With the Leos eager to succeed in the playoffs, tickets are now in demand. The regular home season winds down with Fan Appreciation Night on October 15 with the Blue Bombers in town.

Rest assured, the aggressive and creative owner will have a few surprises up his sleeve to thank the faithful for their ongoing support…

HAPPY RETIREMENT, GORD! …

And I want to wish the happiest and most relaxing retirement to CKNW’s remarkable newsman, Gord MacDonald.

Millions of people started their day with Gord Mac’s voice on ‘NW introducing the top news story of the hour and half hour. Calm, courteous, organized and supportive, Gord helped many a potential Walter Cronkite get into the news groove. He began his radio news career 47 years ago with 33 of those exciting years at the Top Dog.

Congratulations Gord MacDonald on a lifetime of telling us like it is! ...

ARTS UMBRELLA AUCTION …

The famous Arts Umbrella’s 40th Splash Art Auction is bound to be a sellout. This is the magical event that benefits young people by providing access to an Arts Education, and the determined organizers aim to set a new fundraising record.

Splash, the first of the fall season’s see and be seen event, will be held Oct. 22 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver…

Joy and Bill Metcalfe on their 70th anniversary last year.

HAPPY 71st ANNIVERSARY BILL ! …

Also I’d like to send greetings to a really wonderful fellow whom I love dearly, my husband, William (Bill) Metcalfe. We met when I was 14 when the Carroll family moved from Winnipeg to Vancouver and then to Boundary Bay on the American side.

The Metcalfe’s had a thriving business on the Canadian side of the border, operating a grocery store, restaurant and dining room. Their fish and chips were fabulous and famous!

We were wed at 11 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Church in Ladner on a rainy Saturday, September 29, 1951.

Bill was 23 and a newly hired Vancouver firefighter and I was a just-graduated 18 year old. Our wedding reception (very tony with both our mothers doing all the planning) was held in the brand new Ladner Hotel, the hotel’s first gala gala do.

Thinking back to those early times, we were so green, so innocent, and so positive about the world.

Over the years, we have been blessed with six children, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren (the eldest of whom is 17 years old) all of whom we love dearly.

It doesn’t seem possible that more than 70 years have passed. We have been so fortunate and we thank the Almighty for his many, many blessings.

To my darling husband, Happy 71st wedding anniversary ….

HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THE HAIRCUT? …

Apropos of the upcoming elections, here is the story of The Haircut.

One day a florist in Ottawa went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he asked about his bill. The barber replied, “I cannot accept money from you. I’m doing community service this week.”

The florist was pleased and left the shop. When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a thank you card and a dozen red roses waiting for him.

Later a policeman comes in for a haircut and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replies, ”I cannot except money from you. I’m doing community service this week.”

The cop was happy and left the shop. The next morning when the barber went to open his shop, he found a thank you card and a dozen Tim Horton donuts waiting for him at his door.

Then an MP came in for a haircut and when he went to pay his bill the barber again said, “I cannot accept money from you. I’m doing community service this week.”

The MP was happy and went on his way. The next morning when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen MPs lined up waiting for a free haircut.

And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between our country and the politicians who run it. As Ronald Reagan once said, “Both politicians and diapers need to be changed often, and for the same reason.”

Don’t you just love it! ...

Cheers!...

PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR WEST END - COAL HARBOUR COMMUNITY MEDIA

The West End Journal, including “Joy’s Journal”, is made possible by local advertising and monthly contributions from our Faithful Readers Circle. If you would like to support your community media, please visit our fundraising site here to contribute any amount from $5 a month up. If you have a business in the West End / Coal Harbour neighbourhood, check out our advertising rates and information page here.

Thank you!
Kevin Dale McKeown
Editor & Publisher
editor@thewestendjournal.ca