George Fraser
Issue #98 - March 4, 2023
This edition of Sky Studio is dedicated to George Fraser
who joined former colleagues in Sky Studio April 25, 2022
Special Announcement:
https://www.morseandson.com/memorials/george-fraser/4915845/
George’s entry to Sky Studio came to attention March 2023 and its never too late to honour someone who was a former colleague and friend to many and known by many others in the community through his radio, television and community appearances.
Showing the connectivity that remains in the long-ago Sault broadcasting circle, former television and cablevision colleague Patty Page alerted us to this Sky Studio addition saying, “Actually, my sister Joyce, who also worked at the station and is married to George McMillan, who also worked at the station with George Fraser in sales.” Patty also contributed by getting us some background information.
As well as sales, George was a CJIC AM radio announcer and did television voice overs reading the ‘day book’ of commercials, tags and promos along with some television on air work. A radio show called, “Percolator Platter” with shared hosting by Grace Pitt was an audience favourite.
George McMillan was in CJIC TV sales with Jerry Nichols, Wayne Turner, Jim Franz, Paul Fockler and sales secretary Norma Wiggins when George Fraser joined them in the 1960s and he tells us, “ George's family was from Coniston (suburb of Sudbury). Gene Plouffe, Sales Manager at CJIC TV hired him for a position in sales while he was upstairs at CJIC Radio. He also owned a music store on Gore St but had to close it. He left TV sales and took another job in Sales but can't remember what the product was. He moved for a short time to Sudbury with this new sales job before moving to Southern Ontario.”
Long-time broadcaster and former radio company owner Russ Hilderley says, “I remember George as a gentleman salesman and an excellent DJ. He was full time for a long time in Hyland days.”
CJIC radio announcer in the 1970s, John Chambers – who’s uncle Eb Vance was Hyland company Vice President at one time – says, “I remember George Fraser very well. Listened to him quite a bit on CJIC 1050, plus the show he did with Grace. I also remember his face and voice on CJIC TV as well. He filled in quite often for Lionel McAuley and did newscasts on Telerama. My Uncle Eb had something to do with bringing Fraser to the station, back in the day!”
George was also one of the original creators, organizer and fan favourite on ice in the Clergy-Media Hockey games. (see link below)
A wonderful reflection comes from Artist Ken MacDougall who was in the Hyland Radio and TV company Art Department with Bob Jenkins and recalls, “George was a friendly and cheerful member of the Hyland media family and was always a welcome visitor in the Art Dept. An occasion that seems to return to memory was George entertained Bobby and I arriving in the Art room with a saxophone and gave us a lively “Stan Getz.” He was an integral and contributing fixture to the character and culture that our community was blessed with through Hyland Broadcasting.”
From 2017 a ‘Remember This’ article from the Sault Ste. Marie Library tells us of George’s role in the Clergy-Media hockey classics.
Remember This? Local media vs. the clergy - Sault Ste. Marie News (sootoday.com)
From George’s son Greg’s Facebook
