A legend signs off the airwaves

ANNETTE BOURGEOIS

The man who shared his stories, music and insights with thousands over morning coffee signed off the CBC airwaves Thursday after 31 years.

Veteran broadcaster Jonah Kelly was flooded with calls from well wishers as he wrapped up his last hour on the CBC North morning program Qulliq.

Since he signed off, Iqaluit’s CBC station manager Pat Nagle has been busy fielding calls.

“Over the course of the last few days, my phone has been ringing from people calling from all across Canada ­ from Vancouver, from Newfoundland ­ all saying, ‘so Jonah’s retiring, oh no, what are you going to do without him?'”

Good-bye bash

As a tribute to Kelly, well-wishers held a retirement party.

Those who couldn’t attend the Thursday afternoon event tuned into CBC’s afternoon show, which broadcast the celebration live.

Austin Curley called to wish Kelly well. Curley was the assistant director of CBC North when Kelly began his career in broadcasting.

“My mind is flooded with many wonderful memories,” he said.

Curley recalled the time when Kelly took the studio controls for the first time for the broadcast of a Remembrance Day ceremony in Iqaluit.

“As all CBC announcers were trained to avoid dead air, he didn’t like the two minutes of silence at 11 o’clock. So what did he do? He promptly put on recorded music.

“I still think it’s a miracle he survived the wrath of the Montreal producer who’d gone north to produce that broadcast.”

Whit Fraser recalled the days when he co-hosted a radio show with Kelly in Iqaluit in the early CBC days. He said Kelly’s spontaneity kept not only listeners on their seats, but he himself had to always be ready for the unexpected.

“It was what you’d call working without a net and you’d never know what was coming,” he said.

“In the 25 years I worked as a broadcaster I’ve done programs with some interesting people, but none could compare to doing a show with Jonah.”

Fraser said Kelly was always a lively spirit around the studio and kept the doldrums of the day to day grind at bay.

“Here’s a guy whose up for it every day of his life,” Fraser said. “I know his listeners will really miss that energy and enthusiasm…and that laugh.

“The northern service of the CBC and CBC is losing perhaps the best broadcaster in Canada. I’ve worked with this man for a long time and I know what’s he’s capable of doing and my great respect for him is, more than 30 years later, he brings the same enthusiasm and dedication to the job that he brought on the first day.”

Well wishes also poured in from former station managers who’d worked with Kelly throughout his CBC years, Makivik Corporation President Zebedee Nungak, First Air President Peter Adams and Canada’s Arctic ambassador Mary Simon.

GNWT Deputy Premier Goo Arlooktoo commended Kelly for his work promoting Inuktitut on the airwaves. Kelly used this medium not only to entertain, but to bring the news of the world into northern homes.

“We, that have listened to you for many years, view you as one of the most trusted and credible broadcasters in the Arctic,” Arlooktoo said. “Thank you for your contribution and helping the Inuit public, especially, to understand the very difficult issues that face us today.”

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien congratulated Kelly on his achievement and contribution to Canadian culture.

“Your efforts have been instrumental in the development of Inuktitut programming on CBC North Radio and TV contributing immensely not just to the community of the north, but to Canada as a whole,” read a citation of achievement.

Long-time Iqaluit resident Gordon Rennie has been listening to Kelly on the airwaves since the early days of his career. He was on hand to celebrate with Kelly.

“I wake up to you in the morning, Jonah, and I’m certainly going to miss you on the radio.” Nunatsiaq MP Jack Anawak and Senator Charlie Watt sent along messages.

Two leaders helping to build Nunavut, chief commissioner of the Nunavut Implementation Commission, John Amagoalik, and Nunavut Tunngavik President Jose Kusugak were on hand to celebrate with Kelly.

Kusugak entertained the crowd with a story that reflected not only the English expressions Kelly had to hurdle while translating, but also his loyalty to the listeners. Kusugak and Kelly were working together covering the Arctic Winter Games in Yellowknife.

“He said, ‘I’m not going to tell a lie to the people of Nunavut. It’s not snowing out there,’ ” Kusugak recalled Kelly telling him as he examined his script.

“So I said to him, ‘Let me see what it says and there it said… there is a “flurry” of activity in Yellowknife this morning.”

Musicial variety

Elisapee Davidee, who hosted the party along with Simon Awa, summed up Kelly’s eclectic musical tastes.

“We know his tastes,” she said. “It’s a lot of some good ole’ country music, some tear-jerking and fiddle and we’re gonna miss that along with Jonah.”

Jonah, though a man of many words on the air, seemed overwhelmed by all the attention.

“When I started my career as a broadcaster I had no idea that I would be going 25 years or more. It was the career that was meant to be for me and I spent 31 years at it.

“I enjoyed broadcasting. It educated me in many ways.”

Kelly declined an interview request from Nunatsiaq News. After 30 years of talking, we understand. He deserves his well-earned rest.