After nearly 40 years behind the mic, including 35 in Estevan, longtime broadcaster Lyle McGillivray is preparing to sign off for the final time. His last show on Country 106.1 FM will air Monday, June 30, bringing a close to a career filled with change, connection and community spirit.
McGillivray’s path to radio was not a traditional one. He was working as a grader operator in Saskatchewan when he decided to take a shot at a different life.
“I always listened to the radio while working,” he said. “Eventually, I just thought, I’ve got to give that a try.”
He called the station in nearby Medicine Hat and spoke with program director Pat O’Connor. That conversation led to a tour, a quick voice test and eventually a part-time weekend job. He had no formal radio training.
“For nine months, I ran the grater during the week and did midnight shifts at the station on weekends,” he said. “Then it was back on the grader Monday morning.”
That opportunity turned into a full-time position. McGillivray worked in Medicine Hat for several years before moving to Estevan in 1989.
“I always wanted to get into programming, and Estevan gave me that opportunity,” he said. “And coming from Piapot, Estevan was a good size. It felt right.”
He joined what was then Super Country 1280 AM, which later became CJ1280, then CJ1150, and now Country 106.1 FM. Over the years, McGillivray worked as an announcer, program director and most recently as the voice of The Big Breakfast Show.
“I really enjoyed both jobs, but I got into radio to be live on the air,” he said. “The Big Breakfast Show from six to nine in the morning has always been the best part of my day. That’s when you get to really talk to your listeners and be part of their morning.”
He has never seen himself as having an “on-air” persona; just the same person in the booth or at a hockey game.
“I’ve had people say, I chatted with you at the rink and I talked to you on the radio, and it was the same thing,” he said. “There’s no need to try to do something or be somebody else. Just be yourself, respect your listeners, and they will respect you till the cows come home.”
McGillivray has witnessed enormous change over the years. When he arrived in Estevan, records were still the standard and reel-to-reel machines were used for long programs. Commercials were played on cartridges, and announcers had to cue every song and sound bite manually.
“You were busy, but it was fun,” he said. “Now everything is digital, which gives you more time to prep your breaks and focus on your delivery.”
There were also some unforgettable stories along the way. One of the most serious stories Lyle covered was a train derailment on 13th Avenue involving a car carrying ammonia acid. The area was evacuated, but the radio station stayed on air. Lyle said, “I didn’t expect my staff to stay. I said I was going to stay. They could all leave if they wanted to.” Two team members stayed with him to provide live updates during what he called “a major, major disaster.”
He also covered a tense prairie fire coming in from the west and south toward Boundary Power Station. The fire was threatening the area, and the team worked closely with the RCMP to provide updates. He said, “That turned out to be a pretty tense half a day or so. I remember that quite clearly.”
Other moments were lighter. He recalled the station’s in-house “Survivor” contest. Years ago, the team at the old station pulled off their own version of Survivor. They camped out overnight in the studio, and listeners voted to boot them off, one by one, through call-ins. Each host had to pitch themselves to stay in the game, creating promos and playing to the audience. It was chaotic, creative, and completely unforgettable. Another memorable moment was a live broadcast from the roof of a McDonald’s in Medicine Hat for a fundraiser.
He also remembers some of the tougher days, such as the disappearance of 13-year-old Courtney Struble.
"You take that home with you. I haven’t forgotten that," he said. "You are helping them, but it doesn’t change your perspective as to the difficulty that you're having with it." He said of speaking with her family in days following her disappearance.
Through it all, McGillivray says what kept him going was the people. He credits longtime Edmonton broadcaster Bruce Bowie, also from Piapot, as a key mentor in his early years. Bowie critiqued McGillivray’s on-air work by mail, listening to cassette tapes and recording feedback to help him improve.
McGillivray is also grateful to Golden West Broadcasting, which purchased the station in 1995. He said the company gave him the freedom and support to grow with the industry.
“Golden West has kept an old guy like me around and gave me the chance to learn all the new technology,” he said. “They’ve let me grow and keep doing what I love. I really can’t thank them enough.”
After signing off, McGillivray plans to focus more on photography. He recently returned from a bear shoot in northern Manitoba and is planning another trip north with his son Curtis, and wife Betty. He also hopes to spend more time at his gallery in the Estevan mall.
He admits that adjusting to life after early mornings may take time.
“The first challenge will be sleeping past 3:30 a.m.,” he said. “Most mornings, I’m up before the alarm anyway.”
As he prepares for retirement, McGillivray says he is most thankful for the listeners who welcomed him into their routines for so many years.
“Whether you listened for five minutes or every single morning, thank you,” he said. “There are so many ways people can spend their time, and the fact that they chose to spend part of it with me is something I’ll never forget.”