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CANADIAN EPICS IN RADIOCOMMUNICATION

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ÉPOPÉES CANADIENNES EN RADIOCOMMUNICATION

LES ANCIENS QUI ONT VÉCU L'AVENTURE DE LA RADIO

TÉLÉGRAPHISTES SANS FIL  -  PIONNIERS DE LA RADIO

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Wesley (Wes) Roger Garvin

Was a Radio Communicator onboard HMCS Cayuga during the Korean War

Joined DOT in 1956 - Retired from DOC in 1987

 

 

Passed Away in 2016 - Scroll Down for Obituary  

Décès en 2016 - Avis de décès au bas de la page  

 

 

Wes Garvin, who entered the public service following a naval career, retired from his position as Manager of the Calgary District Office.

 

Wes served as a Radio Communicator on HMCS "Cayuga" during the Korean War.

In 1956, he joined Transport Canada, working as a radio operator and later a monitoring radio operator in such places as Embarras Portage in Alberta, Aishihik Lake in the Yukon and Fort Smith in the N. W. T. He later moved to Calgary to become a Radio Inspector and Supervisor of Licensing and then of Spectrum Control. Wes held the position of District Manager of the Calgary District Office with distinction from 1979. All of his friends in the Department wished Wes and his wife Doreen, a long and happy retirement in Salmon Arm, B.C

 

In March 2012, Wes added

 

I was a part of the Student Radio Operator program. Joining the DOT in 1956.

 

Initially. I was to take my training in Winnipeg but as there was an excess of students, they asked for volunteers to got to Radio College in Toronto, so myself, Collin Render, Paul St. Onge and C.W. Tucker(Harry) ended up driving to Toronto.

 

From the Winnipeg records, the following students stayed in Winnipeg:

 

R.S.Halliday; J.F.Watson; S.W.Davis (Stan and I were in Korea together); R.J. McDowell; W.A. Wastle; E.H.Schellenberg; W.J.Smith;F.A.Honig; H.E.D. McKerricher; D.L.Prust; N.S.Derworitz; O.H.Sturby; M.Daeninck; W.H.Head; F.Eyolfson; T.Brownlee; W.Shmigelski; R.G.Giesinger; E.L. McCrae Jr.; R.E.Noden; J.R. Andrews; E.A. Ritthaler and W.H. Fleming.

 

At the end of the Toronto training I elected to join the Edmonton Region District and took weather training at the Municipal airport before being transferred to Embarass Alta. Starting salary was $3180 p.a. effective Dec. 7,1956.

  • 1957 – I was posted to Aeradio Station Norman Wells NWT as O.I.C.

  • 1958 - posted to Aeradio Station Aishihik as O.I.C. until 1961

  • 1961 to 1964 – O.I.C. Aeradio Station Ft. Vermillion Alta.

  • 1964 – 1965 – Radio Operator Watson Lake Yukon

  • 1965 – 1966 – Monitoring Radio Opr. Ft. Smith NWT and Wetaskiwin, Alta.

  • 1966 – 1987 – Department of Communications, went from Field Inspector to Supervisor Licencing then to Operations and finally as District Manager of the Calgary office from which I retired in 1987.

  • Laval, March 2012

     

    Obituary - Avis de décès

    Wesley (Wes) Roger Garvin

    1932 - 2016

     

    Wesley Roger Garvin

     

    April 11, 1932 – August 2, 2016
    at the age of 84 years

    It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, Wesley Roger Garvin, born April 11, 1932.

    Wes is survived by his loving wife of 55 years Doreen, 3 children Michelle, Daniel and his partner Nelson, David and his wife Rose, 4 grandchildren, Jeff, Jason, Tasha and Danielle and 2 great grandchildren, Wyatt and Cooper.

    Wes was born in Saskatoon SK and was the 3rd eldest of 10 children, all raised on a farm in Craik, SK. He left home at the age of 18 to join the Navy and ended fighting in the Korean War. After the Navy Wes moved to Toronto where he met the love of his life, Doreen
    and started his career with the Government in the Communication sector.

    His work had him and Doreen traveling through the Yukon and the Northwest Territories, then landing him and his now family 4 in Calgary AB where he lived until his retirement, which brought both him and Doreen to Salmon Arm, B.C.

    Wes was a caring, generous and loving man. People and humor were his greatest enjoyment which was evident to all, as he would joke and talk to anyone he came into contact with. He loved to see people happy and smiling.

    A celebration of Wes’ life will be held for the family only at one of his favorite places in the Shuswap. Should you choose, in lieu of flowers, you can send a charitable donation in his name to the War Veterans of Canada.

    The family would also like to take this time to “thank” Doctors Weicker and McKinnon for their caring, compassion and continued support during this sorrowful time.

     

     

    I have not seen Wes in well over fifty years but our paths crossed several times when we were both radio operators in the north. All the good things said about him ring a bell with me. We connected a few years ago via email when I stumbled across the DOT radio history site. Condolences to all who care.

     

    Terry Gibson

    20 March 2017

     

    Links   -   Liens

     

    1987 - Federal Department of Communications - District managers gather

    1987 - Ministère fédéral des Communications - Réunion des gestionnaires de district