Broadcaster, actor.
Born at Brandon on 6 September 1928, one of two sons of Geoge Edward Gardner (1903-1982) and Elsie Beatrice Rogers (1903-2005), he spent 60 years as a radio broadcaster, starting with CKX in Brandon and moving in 1949 to Winnipeg to host the morning shows at CJOB and, in 1956, at CKRC. He returned to CJOB as Program Director in 1960, serving for nine years before quitting to begin a freelance career. After retirement, he continued occasional broadcasting on the nostalgia station CHNR.
His theatrical career began in 1953 with a role in the Winnipeg Little Theatre production of “The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker.” With Rainbow Stage, he had such memorable roles as Tevye in “Fiddler On The Roof,” Cowardly Lion in “The Wizard of Oz,” Fagin in “Oliver!” and Alfred Doolittle in “My Fair Lady.” He performed at the Manitoba Theatre Centre, Shoestring Theatre, Theatre 77, and “Beer N Skits” of the Winnipeg Press Club. He led the cheers at Winnipeg Blub Bomber games and was later inducted into the Bomber Hall of Fame. He served on committees of the Manitoba Centennial Corporation.
He and wife June Athena Mitrou (1926-2014) had two sons.
He died at Winnipeg on 13 October 2003. He was inducted posthumously into the Manitoba Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
Marriage registration [George Edward Gardner, Elsie Beatrice Rogers], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Obituary [George Edward Gardner], Brandon Sun, 8 May 1982, page 22.
“Veteran radio announcer one of Rainbow’s early stars” by Kevin Prokosh, Winnipeg Free Press, 15 October 2003, page D3.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 18 October 2003.
“They will never be forgotten,” Winnipeg Free Press, 31 December 2003, pages A6-7.
Obituary [Elsie Beatrice Gardner], Brandon Sun, 11 June 2005, page 18.
Obituary [June Athena Gardner], Winnipeg Free Press, 24 February 2014.
Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 6 November 2024
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