More than a Nichols' worth of news
May 9, 2005
By Cam Tait
It was way back in 1972, on my way home from another day of Grade 8, that I heard a new voice read the afternoon news on my favourite radio station: 630 CHED in Edmonton. The new announcer gave the weather report and then identified himself as all broadcast journalists do. His name was C.R. Nichols. As a teenager with a wild dream that, maybe, one day I could work in the media, C.R. quickly became a hero of mine. I was always amazed - still am - at the way C.R., or Cec to his friends, could turn a phrase and spin a story. He's a masterful wordsmith, a wonderful writer, and a seasoned veteran news broadcaster.
Over the years, Cec has written and read hundreds of thousands of news
stories. He's covered them all, from international, to national, to
local. Some of those stories were about horrific human loss. And for
those in the business, we often marvel how people can pull themselves
through that deep, deep part of their journey to carry on with daily
living. A few years ago, Cec found himself in one of those stories.
The only difference was that he wasn't telling it; he was living it.
His grandson became ill. Quite ill. For a couple of years, Cec made two visits a day to the Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton to visit his grandson. This, like many other stories Cec has read, does not have a happy ending. Last May 20, at the age of five, Cec's grandson passed away.
Cec has been reading the morning news for Joe FM in Edmonton for many
years. Joe FM was one of four radio stations that recently held a three-day
radiothon at the Stollery Children's Hospital. They set up desks, strung
wire, and radio personalities went to the hospital lobby to broadcast
their shows. Management of Joe FM thought if it might be too fresh and
too painful for Cec to go the hospital.
Instead, he did something else.
Before the radiothon, Cec decided to go into the studio with a script.
He recorded a heartfelt and emotional piece about what it was like to
walk that final part of his grandson's journey with him. Cec said his
grandson felt safe at the hospital. In fact, a few days before he passed
away, he left his parents house and asked to "go home," back to the
hospital. Cec told his story as only he can. It was played in the final
hours of the radiothon. If you weren't wearing a headset you would be
unable to hear it in the lobby of the hospital. Those who were on headsets
were moved to tears.
The radiothon raised a record amount of money this year. I could share
the figure with you, but I don't think that's the story here. This story
is about a man who dug deep - perhaps deeper than he even thought possible
- to share his own loss in such a public arena. It could have been painful
to relive it, so close to the first anniversary of his grandson's death.
It might have been easier to turn the other way. But Cec didn't. He
took three of his greatest gifts - his time with his grandson, his golden
touch with the pen, and his voice - to tell people just how special
a children's hospital can be. He took a risk. And by doing so, he touched
many hearts.
C.R. Nichols is a hero to me as a broadcaster, but even more so as a man.
Cam Tait is a sports reporter and columnist for the Edmonton Journal. He covered community investments and volunteers for 19 years. E-mail Cam at cam@charityvillage.com with thoughts, suggestions or ideas.
Opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of CharityVillage.com®.
