The Incomparable Gary Bannerman
One other time in the course of my life have I shed a tear on the passing of someone I met a half dozen times or so.
Only Denny Boyd, who used to frequent my old man’s downtown restaurant, did that to me.
But the announcement of Gary Bannerman’s death today was another one of those moments. I’d met him the first time through Bill VanderZalm when I was toiling away trying to rescue then premier Bill and the Socreds.
Bannerman, ever the dry humorist, asked me why “one so young would be working so hard for likely so little.” Flabbergasted, but resigned to the reality of the matter, I admitted that it was likely an exercise in futility.
“What?!” he exclaimed, “hey, I was just kidding Alex; if you’re going to survive in the game, you’ve got to have more guts than that son–don’t let anyone get you down.”
And that was really his mantra; his life. Bannerman exemplified the fighter. If he wasn’t fighting to comfort the afflicted, then it was his passion, of afflicting the comfortable. And that had him giving it his all.
He delivered many a politician’s petard and took great relish in defending people who he thought got a raw deal. He said to me, right before the trial of our mutual friend VanderZalm: “This is going to go nowhere. It’ll get thrown out because, as you know, Bill didn’t do what they claim he did. Peter (Butler, QC) will prove it (VanderZalm’s innocence), just watch how it unfolds.” When I dared offer a retort that suggested the rest of the media thought Bill would be found guilty, he was less than impressed.
But the classic Bannerman replied.
“If you can’t question those who ask the goddamned questions, then we’re in real trouble. Never take anyone’s word for it. Think it through yourself going in and coming out. Few reporters are without an agenda.”
Bannerman, other than Rafe and Jack, was the last time NW saw any real greatness. Gary knew how to hold someone’s feet to the fire until they were nice and crisp (before he even thought of letting you go). No free rides from him, you either had the answer of he helped you along–from pillar to post and then some.
He was a boozy, bare-knuckled, brash and utterly honest broadcaster, who you could count on for the truth. Juxtaposition that with the shameless vanilla you get from nine to noon every morning on any of the Vancouver stations and you see how very far we have fallen. It’s sad. Very, very sad.
Gary Bannerman was broadcasting greatness and I shall miss him.
My only consolation in his passing is that he, Jack, Pat and Denny will sit around with a bottle (or three) of Chivas and toast the good ole days when YOU, the people, had their voices–ones you could count on.
Gary is gone.
Lord love him.
We sure did.
Here’ s to Gary, Jack and Pat!
Young (and old) reporters. learn some lessons here…
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Indeed! I’ll raise a glass to all the glasses they raised.
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you are dead on regarding Bannerman, of course you are right about
Pat, Jack, and Denny I had the pleasure of meeting all of them when I was working my way through school as bartender at the Shaughnessy G. C.C.
Webster and Bill Good Sr were real story tellers. when one looks back at that time you can not help but be thankful we had such talent.
thank you for the great memories.
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Honestly, I think of Bill Good Sr. sometimes, and I have to wonder where Junior went wrong fro Christ’s sake.
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I’m very sorry to hear we lost another colourful giant from the better days of Vancouver media.
You mentioned Denny Boyd. By chance I was cleaning out some boxes at home this weekend and came across some vintage wrapping – the Friday, June 2nd, 1989 edition of the Sun. My overdue spring cleaning took a break as I read Denny’s yellowed column. I’m tempted to transcribe it here just to let the mastery flow through my fingers. I’ll pass a little of it on.
“I punched out early Wednesday. Even in print, the childish bickering in the legislature and in Ottawa was shrill enough to cause a sharp pain behind my left eyebrow. The newsroom was as raucous as a steel mill. The stack of snappish letters replying to the recent column… seemed about to combust. So I peeled off my word-stained overalls and, God help me, I fled.”
He buys a large soda and escapes to the beach. A crow wrestles and defeats a billowing shopping bag. A young girl joyfully pokes tidal pools and chases crabs.
“Surely the finest time in life is when you can see nothing beyond the miracles your hands can reach and your feet can feel. The little girl on the beach owned nothing but she was completely free of fear, debt, obligation, wealth, anger, jealousy and prejudice. That unburdened, she owned the world.”
Wow.
Growing up with Denny, Jack, Gary and Pat I took their excellence for granted, spoiled as I was. I proudly delivered the Sun through my youth, many routes on the north shore, and managed a carrier depot as well. I visited the old press building on Granville numerous times. My own career on the fringes of these greats was partly because of them. To their memories, and to more lucky finds from our past.
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This will go down as one of my favorite columns of all time. Bless you. Denny was completely wonderful. He wrote the best eulogy in the city.
He made the page dance.
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Amen AGT, Amen.
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I listened to Gary from the very beginning. He even helped me put ICBC in their place back when they were first cutting their teeth in the Insurance Industry. Anyway, you know how it is with life, you always think there is time to “catch up” later? I had always sort of hoped that Bannerman would return to the airwaves and yet I didn’t hold my breath. When I heard he died I went to my computer, it was late that night, maybe the 3:00 am “NW News, and I listened to one of his previous broadcasts. It all came back to me and I, too, shed a tear for this great, honorable man of broadcasting. Where does the time go?
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It is a pleasure to say that I knew Gary as a friend and colleague for over thirty years. He was a person of influence on any topic he gave attention to and his heroes point to the worthy personal qualities he strove to cultivate in himself.
I carry many fond memories of Gary and send my love to Patricia.
Leigh
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A huge privilege to have you visit Leigh. We all loved Gary. Bless you.
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Thank you, Alex, for providing the opportunity to publicly acknowledge, celebrate, and remember our friend.
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Delightedly. Gary was a national treasure and one of the finest broadcasters in Canadian history.
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Heard you on the podcast remembering Gary. People should know more about folks like Gary.
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He was amazing.
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