So it’s official, after 1 and a half years at LIVE 105 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, I’m pulling up stakes and heading back to my hometown, Ottawa. I figured this was the best way to set the story straight as it were. Radio is a weird industry. You know that old WKRP theme song? There’s a line in it that says “town to town, up & down your dial”. I know it sounds corny, but that’s the way of the game. The unofficial motto of a radio announcer has always been, have headphones will travel. I was lucky enough to spend the first 13 years of my career in my hometown and to be honest, I felt really burned out at the end of that run. Now I’ve never had any delusions about this business, I know that no job in radio is permanent and by no means a birth right. C’est la vie right? But while I was in Ottawa, I was lucky enough to work at the best rock radio station in that city bar none, with a talented staff filled with people who ALSO grew up as fans of that station and if if weren’t for that station, I’d never have ended up with the Cub nickname. (Thanks Gord & Rich)
But as is the case in business, shit happens. New people come in and want to try things their way, which is cool, hey, it’s their dime right? I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for that place, but I will never forget the circumstances involved with my leaving. If anything, getting turfed turned out to be the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I got to live the dream, packing up my stuff and taking off for the big adventure. I got to launch a kick ass rock radio station in one of the most beautiful, historic cities in this country and for that, I am eternally grateful. Halifax gave me my career back. It sucks when something you love gets taken away from you. It’s tough to stay positive and happy when inside, what you thought was your world, crumbles around you. Coming to Halifax was a GREAT move, I got to fall in love with radio again, thanks to an awesome format with an awesome co-host (love ya Floyd, always will!) and people that I will always call friends. Halifax will always hold a special place in my heart because Halifax is the city that gave me my son. A piece of me will ALWAYS stay in Nova Scotia. Thank you Halifax, more than you’ll ever know.
After two years away from home, I’m moving home to take over mornings in a building that I last worked full time in close to a decade ago. 93.9 BOB-FM. The reason why I’m leaving Halifax? Well, believe it of not, there’s nothing juicy to report. I had an awesome time at LIVE 105. The reason why I’m leaving is be closer to my family. My dad passed away on Nov 25th 2011. I spent two weeks back home helping my family out and it was then that I decided that it might be time to explore the possibility of returning home. I LOVED living in Halifax, loved living beside the ocean, loved being able to surf again for three glorious months this summer after nearly 20 years away from the sport. But something changed and that something was the birth of my son. The first grandson born on my side of the family and I just didn’t want to deny my son the chance to be closer to his Grandma’s, aunts, uncles and cousins. That’s it, plain and simple, no lying about my health, no drama with management. Family. Kids, that’s the game changer. I’ll miss the Beford Basin, Cow Bay, Lunenburg, traffic on Bayers Lake road, North End Hipsters, buying beer in growler form & the best fresh seafood in the country.
I’m re-energized, refocused and recharged to come back to MY city. This time with a team that is just as focused as I am. I’m coming home to a station that is a heritage station in Ottawa, with friends that I’ve known for a long time, chemistry is like gold in this industry and coming very soon, we’re getting set to blow the doors off of the nations capital. The goal is to make things fun again on the radio in Ottawa and to make people take notice of this big, giant, orange hits machine. I’d love it if you would join us.
See you back in Bytown, thanks for the ride Halifax.
Tags: 93.9 BOB-FM, Cub Carson, Farewell Nova Scotia, LIVE 105 Halifax, Ottawa, Ottawa Radio
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