by Joy Metcalfe

NEWS ABOUT GEORGE GARRETT

Upsetting news recently is that CKNW’s star reporter for eons, George Garrett, has been ailing of late. After recent tests, doctors confirmed that he was suffering from stomach cancer but assured him that they would operate to remove it and he’d be fine.

In the meantime, George, probably because of the stress, was stricken with a serious heart attack which kept him in hospital for more than ten days and was serous enough that it prevented a further operation on his cancer.

He’s had another scan at VGH and will know the results on September 5. There’s hope that surgeons will be able to operate and remove all of the deadly disease, but with his heart condition, it’s very much a wait and see situation.

In the meantime, George — visibly weak but as sharp as a tack — is looking forward to moving closer to family, at a new care facility in White Rock.

When George was the Top Dog’s best, no one could touch him. He was so trusted by the Vancouver Police Department beat cops and officers that he had the inside track on all the dire situations and investigations.

He gave CKNW his all, including his two front teeth when he was covering the race riots and burgeoning fires that ran out of control in Los Angeles some years ago.

He was in a phone booth trying to report the harrowing situation back to ‘NW when a large angry black fellow broke open the door and smashed him in the face! It took a long time healing and replacing those choppers. His late and lovely wife, Joan, almost fainted when he arrived back with his misshapen face and head from his L.A. misadventure.

George recounted many of his hilarious, sad, weird and heartbreaking stories in his best selling book “Intrepid Reporter,” which sold out immediately.

Throughout his working life, George has received many accolades, including the Bruce Hutchison Lifetime Achievement Award at the Jack Webster Foundation gala and Canada’s Radio and TV Digital News Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, along with numerous other citations and awards. He’s an Honorary Member of the RCMP Veterans Association, an Associate Member of the Vancouver Superannuated Police Officers Association, and an Honorary Constable of the New Westminster Police Department. He was also instrumental in starting the Drivers For Cancer Patients organization in Surrey.

Yet, surprisingly, and despite several applications by his close friends, he has not been named to the Order of British Columbia. George Garrett deserves this honour – and soon …

Joy (centre) with (left) photographer Gladys Lee and Mitzi Gaynor.

HERE’S MITZI!

For years, many Vancouverites, and especially West Enders, gathered for a special night out at the legendary Cave Theatre night club to welcome their favourite performer.

When Mitzi Gaynor appeared in town, the lineup to the Cave box office was packed and went all around the block. The singing and dancing star had such an energizing effect on her audience, along with her comedic talent, that the sold out house wouldn’t let her off the stage, even after a dozen curtain calls.

Finally, owner Stan Grozina had to turn on the house lights to end the evening of pure show business know-how.

That’s when Mitzi and her husband, film producer Jack Bean, trotted across the street to the Casa D’ Italia for a late pasta dinner. Jack was not only her husband but her manager, who watched every detail of the performance and gauged the audience’s reactions from the upstairs balcony.

He was a handsome, serious gentleman who truly loved this vivacious and talented woman. They were married for 52 years before his death from pneumonia at age 84.

Mitzi’s last performance in Vancouver was a three night show at the Vogue Theatre. In the photo above, I’m the emcee on stage (with photographer Gladys Lee) to introduce Mitzi to the packed crowd and promote her appearance at the Vogue. It was a fun afternoon. She was hilarious.

I still miss her and her biggest fan, Vancouver’s late impresario, Hugh Pickett.

It’s hard to believe but, in a couple of days, this whirling dervish (who was born Sept. 4 in Chicago in 1931) will be 92 years young! Happy Birthday, Mitzi!! …….

BIANCA FUSCO ZANATTA

Another dynamic bundle of energy and goodwill is Bianca Fusco Zanatta who recently asked me to lunch to see her new downtown digs.

When I looked at the address, I held my breath. In fact, I was quite trepidatious as I watched the elevator zoom up to the 57th floor!

Their new villa is breathtaking with views of English Bay, to West Vancouver and the North Shore mountains, to Metrotown and the entire West End and beyond from their spacious flower-bedecked balcony.

Floating prominently among the sleek yachts and small ferries on the waters of English Bay was a new craft. It was Anawa, the $100 million yacht owned by Brazillian billionaire Jorge Paulo Lemann. They anchored for a few days before gliding away. The sight was so Vancouver.

But, of course, being Bianca, she has too many things happening to gaze too long at the view, whether designing or building elegant homes or raising needed funds for a number of charity initiatives.

This year, due to the horrific 7.8 earthquake in Turkey, she personally oversaw the delivery of $500,000 worth of Stormtech Performance apparel to the earthquake victims, including quality jackets, thermal wear and essential gear which will directly impact those in dire need with winter coming on. This donation was facilitated by Bianca, founder of the Reach for Outer Space organization and the Turkish Consul General in Vancouver.

Blake Annable, president and CEO of Stormtech, said, “as a company with the means to make a small difference, it is our duty to contribute.”

And who could resist Bianca? Good on them …

Denis and Mary Forristal cutting their 60th anniversary cake.

60 YEARS FOR DENIS & MARY

Popular hotelman, Denis Forristal and his wife, Mary, recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. After a family service at their church, they decided to mark their special July 6 day by taking an Irish All-Star cruise from Seattle to Alaska.

More than 125 Irish entertainers (can you just imagine!) kept the cruise enjoyable and entertaining with music, song and dance throughout Holland America’s Westerdam.

Sounds like a grand time of singing and dancing, loving and laughing. Congratulations to the two lovebirds! ...

67 FOR JOAN & RALPH!

And kudos too to Joan and Ralph Bower as they celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary with their family at a nearby restaurant. Ralph has recovered well, thanks to Joan’s loving care, from his disastrous fall in the spring…

A NEW LOOK IN LUGGAGE

Quite the cocktail party at the Fairmont Pacific Rim patio last week as they launched the opening of Béis, a new brand in luggage, totes and bags and everything travel. Béis was founded by Canadian actress and entrepreneur, the glamorous Shay Mitchell, who was on hand to introduce the new look in luggage. They also announced a new month-long pop up concept, instigated by the luxury hotel. It’s the first time Béis has been offered in Canada and the Pacific Rim Hotel will be the brand’s only stop before the tour ends in Dallas.

The Béis pop-up at the Fairmont will be there until September 4 (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and later this fall you’ll be able to see and buy the brand exclusively at Indigo stores …