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
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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
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