Memorable Manitobans: Ivan Gordon LeMesurier [Lee Major] (1938-2023)

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Ivan Gordon LeMesurier [Lee Major]
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Broadcaster.

Born at Medicine Hat, Alberta in February 1938, he began a lifelong career in broadcasting at Yellowknife, NWT after working for a time with the Hudson’s Bay Company. In 1957, he became a late-night disc jockey at radio station CFYK where he adopted the on-air name Lee Major. In December 1958, the station became a CBC Northern Services outlet.

He managed CBC station CHFC at Fort Churchill until late 1963 then was transferred to CBC Winnipeg. There, he hosted such radio and television programs as The Lee Major Show, Major Progression, Music to Listen to Jazz By, and Red River Country. He hosted cooking shows Cooks Tours and 2 Grumpy Guys in the Kitchen. He was President (1988-1989) and a Life Member of the Winnipeg Press Club.

He was married twice, first in 1959 to Anne ? at Yellowknife with whom he had three sons and second to schoolteacher Brenda Anne Moski (1951-2007) with whom he had a fourth son.

He retired to Campbell River, British Columbia where he died on 11 July 2023.

Sources:

“Coffee break” by Gene Telpner, Winnipeg Free Press, 23 November 1963, page 3.

“Lee Major,” Winnipeg Free Press, 11 October 1969, page 160.

“Birthdays,” Winnipeg Free Press, 14 February 1998, page 27.

Obituary [Brenda Anne Lemesurier], Winnipeg Free Press, 21 August 2007.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 15 July 2023.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 1 December 2023

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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