We were so very sad to learn of the passing of Gord Atkinson - long time mentor and friend to The Stairwell Carollers -
Monday,
April 26, 2021. He will be sorely missed. So many memories...
Our connection to Gord began in 1984 when his wife Elaine heard us carolling at Bayshore Shopping Centre. Right
there, he invited us to sing LIVE on CFMO for their Christmas Exchange Telethon.
Before the
broadcast, he asked "what should I call you folks - what's the
group's
name?"
We didn’t HAVE a name.
After
an awkward moment Dawn (soprano) piped up -- "The Stairwell
Carollers". I was dumbstruck. It was perfect. Our new name was forever cast in radio history as
Gord introduced us for the first time ever over the airwaves.
(I wish I had a photo - the pic below is from a later Christmas exchange broadcast from the Ottawa Citizen building)
Gord claimed us as his "Discovery", welcoming us into his
musical cadre alongside Paul Anka, Elvis and Rich Little. We sang
for The Christmas Exchange Broadcast on CFMO and CFRA for many
years and were even treated to a wee float with our name on it in the 1987 Santa Claus parade .
Pierre and I kept in touch with both Gord and Elaine, always looking forward to their Christmas card newsletter, always with a special note added just for us.
In 1986, Gord
and CFMO produced our first recording, a vinyl
album which raised over $53,000 for
Ronald MacDonald House.
Gord and Elaine attended many of our concerts and, though he always
said he was just
a fan, we knew better. Gord Atkinson provided the choir
countless opportunities that
led to the professional
development of The Stairwell Carollers.
He had the most generous
heart. I miss him from the bottom of mine.
We send our sincere condolences to his wife
Elaine and their
family at this difficult time.
Gord Atkinsons Obituary : https://ottawacitizen.remembering.ca/obituary/gordon-atkinson-1082194642
CTV news https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/legendary-ottawa-radio-broadcaster-gord-atkinson-dies-at-94-1.5402971
Global news https://globalnews.ca/news/7813330/ottawa-radio-gord-atkinson-obituary/
Ottawa Citizen https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/egan-from-bing-to-the-king-radio-man-gord-atkinson-had-legendary-career