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B 2 - The Oakville Beaver, W e d n e s d a y July 9, 2003 Wayne Van Exan Broadcaster dedicated to his profession and community Wayne Van Exan was an impeccable dresser. He made all of his public appearances wearing tailored suits accessorized by a crisp white shirt and a tie. "Being well dressed was very impor tant to him." said Marlyne. his wife of 43 years. "He was a firm believer in pre senting himself well. Good first impres sions were very' important to him." Van Exan. host of CFRB's Tin· Owl's Nest for 29 years, died in Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital on Canada Day. July I. at age 64 from COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. A funeral service was held for him yesterday. "Wayne dedicated his life to commu nication." While in and out of hospital over the past year hooked up to a venti lator to help him breath, "he was unable to speak and communicated with his eyes," said Marlyne. "My dad always told me you can be the best scientist in the world but if you can't communicate, you have nothing," said his son John Van Exan of Chicago. "He touched every' person in every department at that hospital." continued Marlyne. "And. the people in the ICU and 4 West (who eared for him) are absolutely the most fabulous people in the world." Van Exan had suffered from COPD. a combination of asthma, bronchitis and emphysema, for several years. "But, it didn't matter how sick he felt, he always looked good." Van Exan was born on April 9, 1939 in Smiths Falls, Ont. He grew up in Ottawa and Hamilton. At age nine, he became a choir boy and server at All Saints Anglican Church in Hamilton. He also got involved with its youth group. He graduated from Lome Park High School and earned his degree in Radio and Television Arts from Rverson University in I960. He was married on July 9. I960 in All Saints Anglican Church, moved to Brockville and landed his first job at CFJR "where he did everything, morn ings. afternoons and nights," said his wife. In September 1961. he was the first announcer hired for the then new CKFM, then known as CFRB-FM. working the 4 p.m. - midnight shift. By the end of that year, he was approached by Bill McVean, at the time host of The Owl's Prowl on CFRB to take over his shift. Van Exan was CFRB's Night Owl for the next 29 years to 1990. "He was on the air when there was a transmitter fire," said Marlyne. "He noticed on the control board that there was something wrong with the signal at about 2 a.m.. and called the station's chief engineer who discovered the trans mitter was on fire. As a result of that call, the station was off the air for only 45 minutes instead of days, as the whole transmitter could have been lost in that fire." Van Exan worked without a pro ducer - he handled the controls himself. Don Andrews, a long time friend and currently swing announcer at AM 740, dedicated his Monday air shift to Van Exan. "Wayne was always cheerful, happy, helpful and had a good sense of humour." said Andrews. After he left CFRB. Van Exan worked for Andrews during the 1990s running On Site Radio Systems, a company that sold low pow ered radio transmitter systems. Van Exan was also a self-taught com puter wizard. T he only problem he had was that he couldn't get his new scanner to work." continued Andrews. "He spent about a year trying to get it to work before having someone from the manu facturer come to his house. He was a genius on the computer." Andrews also spoke highly of Van Exan's dedication to his job. "Wayne was always very helpful and very dedicated. He was working at CFRB at a lime when dedication and professionalism were key in the broad cast industry, not like the voice tracks of today. He did a marvelous job and helped make CFRB the No. 1 station in Canada. "He was a good family man who always talked about his wife and kids. He cared very much." concluded Andrews. "Wayne always put everybody else first and took second best for himself." continued Marlyne. "He was just a sweet, sweet guy. a good dad and a good husband. He didn't have an enemy in the whole world. "He was a very gentle man. He always put himself after others. He always pushed everybody to reach their potential." The Van Exans moved to Oakville, from Toronto, in 1964. Wanting to give back to a community he had grown to love. Van Exan joined the Oakville Civitan Club in 1967. The following year he was elected president "and the club had one of its most successful years ever." she said. "Through the years, people may not have liked how he did things - but they always reveled at the outcome." For many years Van Exan produced the club's newsletter. Trident, on his home computer and handled the club's public relations, volunteered with the club's youth dances for 25 years to raise funds for research of mental retardation, and hosted Civitan Club barbecues for at least 20 years. During the 1970s, he was instrumental in raising $100,000 for this research, a project of Civitan International. "He was most proud of his Oakville Civitan Club Honour Key. his District Honour Key and his International Honour Key." said Marlyne. "The Honour Key was the highest commenda tion you can receive from Civitan." Van Exan moved up through the inter-school competition. "I remember one particular day he had to be in Bracebridge to emcee for the IAPA." said Marlyne. "So. after leaving his shift at 6 a.m.. he drove to Bracebridge where he had to be by 9 a.m., and came home at 4 p.m. After a few hours sleep, he was back at work by 11 p.m. That was one of his most gruel ing days." He launched HAPPEN (Halton And Peel Professional Executive Network), a networking support group for unem ployed business professionals, in 1991. and founded the Air Enforcers better breathing club based at OTMH in 1999. Van Exan also volunteered with the Big Brothers of Halton. emceed the annual Miss Oakville Pageants for many years, was master of ceremonies at the official opening of the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts 25 years ago, and was the host announcer for the RCMP Musical Ride when it came to Oakville during the mid-1970s. He was also master of ceremonies for the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair's Retriever Trials from the late 1960s to the mid-1970s, the Voice of Cruikshank Motors from 1972-1977. master of cere monies for Canadian Superstars for the Canadian Association for the Mentally Retarded and was named its Volunteer of the Year in 1981. "Music was a huge part of Wayne's life." said Marlyne. "He appreciated all facets of music from jazz, soul, big band, opera, rhythm and blues, pop and yes, even rock and roll. He loved the Christmas and Easter Messiahs." He is survived by his wife, daughter Terri and her husband Scott of Brooklin. Ont., and John and his wife Jeanine of Chicago, plus grandchildren Alex, Brandon and Madison. In memorial donations may be sent to (lie Oakville Civitan Club Youth Seminar Fund, PO Box 69583. Oakville. ON. L6J 7R4. Wayne Van Exan Civitan organization, as Lieutenant Governor of Canada District West, was twice elected governor of Canada District West, and elected International Vice-President of Zone 5. "When Wayne got involved with District Civitan. we started going to international conventions." said Marlyne. "Because he wanted to make sure everyone had a great time, he planned the itineraries. The three that come to mind are Mexico, California/Big Sur and New Orleans. That's why I call him the 'Tour Guide Extraordinaire.'" Van Exan was a Life Member of the Oakville Civitan Club. He was also an Honourary Member of the Oakville and District Humane Society and the Industrial Accident Prevention Association (IAPA). He sat on the humane society's board of direc tors and moderated the lAPA's annual School Safety Awareness Program, an M e a ls o n W h e e ls d e liv e rs n u tr itio n a n d g o o d ta s te Eating nutritiously and economically is a daily chal lenge. When someone has health problems and difficul ties getting out to shop, the challenge can be even greater. Some Oakville resi dents have found that Oakville Kiwanis Meals on Wheels can help. Dorothy Hollingsworth has been a hot meal client since November 1998. The 83-year-old says she heard about Meals on Wheels from a friend o f hers. Hollingsworth believes having the hot meals delivered at lunchtime each weekday is very convenient for her. She doesn't have a car and would have trou ble bringing a whole week's worth of food home from the local grocery. Her daily routine is to eat the entire meal o f soup, main entree and dessert at noon, and make herself a light supper, usually salad, in the evening. "I enjoy every thing. I enjoy the veg etables especially, because they're not overcooked." she said. The hot meals are prepared at Halton Healthcare Sen ices (Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital site). Hollingsworth has good words for the volunteers who deliver the meals, loo. "The meals are always very prompt. Everyone who delivers is very pleasant and helpful." Five years ago, major health prob lems landed Shirley Henry in hospital, where it was recommended to her that she look into Meals on Wheels. With heart problems, arthritis and a diagnosis of diabetes, Henry knew it m little Caesars L o o k f o r o u r fly e r i n s e le c t e d is s u e s o f t o d a y ' s O a k v ille B e a v e r 2441 LAKESHORE RD W 511 MAPLE GROVE RD at Bronte Rd in the Maple Grove Village 827-7778 842-1114 Barrie Erskine · Oakville Beaver Fitzie Jam es, a Meals on W heels volunteer, visits briefly with Dorothy H ollingsw orth. 83, when she delivers her hot m eal. Oakville Kiwanis Meals on was time to make a change. two of her favourites. Today, she is an energetic 74When Henry was cooking for Wheels has provided meals to year-old who orders seven herself, she used to struggle with residents of Oakville who are frozen meals every week. eating up fresh vegetables before unable to prepare nutritious With careful choices from the they spoiled. meals for themselves. Clients may refer themselves, extensive menu, Henry is able to "The money for a week (of manage her diabetes through frozen meals] is cheaper than or a friend, relative, neighbour diet. buying groceries and throwing may call to refer someone they "I'm a very good eater, a big half of it out." she said. think might benefit from the eater." said Henry. "The servings Henry sees herself as a long service. Clients pay for the cost are a good size and there's a term client of Meals on Wheels. of the food, which is delivered "If they stopped this program. 1 by volunteers. For more infor good variety." Traditional pot roast and the think I would be lost." she said. mation about the program, call creamy herbed pork chops are Since its inception in 1976, 905-842-1411. Red Cross safety messengers HERE'S H o w IT WORKS: at 4 b iU ctend?RMXrPrfabriC °f merchandise Choose from these Spetial Selections. HOMf DECOR: VOILE FANCIES, WINFItlD DECORATOR TEXTURES, JACQUARD WHITES, TRISTAN JACQUARDS, PARLOUR PRINTED VO ILE, CLOQ U EJACQUARDS, CASTELLA CHENIIIE, FANCY ORGANZA, W IDE WIDTH VOILESOIIDS; FABRIC: W-l-D-t BROADCLOTH, SATIN SOLIDS, DRESSWEAR SOLIDS, ASSORTED SUITINGS, POLYESTER PRINTS ASSORTED SPORTSWEAR t KNITS, BOTTOMWEtGHT SPORTSWEAR SOLIDS, SWEET TIME PRINTS, CHRISTMAS Flats, Quilts t Panels, PREMIER KNIT CO LLECTIO N, STRETCH COTTON POPLIN PRINTS; SEWING NOTIONS: HOOK S LOOP TAPE By the Metre A Hanks, SPECIALTYSCISSORS, BLANKET BINDING; TRIMS: EYELET, LACE, GUIPURE, CRO CH ETED , BEADED A RAYON PIPING._ Entire in-Stone Stock' The Oakville Branch of the Canadian Red Cross has once again received funding for two Summer Safety Promotions Coordinators from the HRDC Summer Employment Program. "This is an excellent pro gram that reaches thousands of children before they head out to enjoy their summer," said Community Services Coordinator Allison Goertzen. "The key message ra c e cadevnu OF DANCE & P E R F O R M IN G ARTS A c a d e m y D irector: H eidi K n a p p G r a c e A c a d e m y is p le a s e d to o f f e r the fo llo w in g courses fo r students fr o m a g e 3 to a d u lt: BUR D A PATTERNS B U Y 1 at M S R Price ( o f e q u a l v a lu e o r le v s ) O ff e r v a l id J u ly 7 - 2 2 2 0 0 3 N o t v a lia vMth a n y o t h e r a c c o u n t o f fe r · Classical Ballet · M odern Theatre D a n c e /J a zz · Tap · M usical Theatre & A cting Serving the O akville & Burlington Communities For m o re in fo rm a tio n a n d to re g is te r p le a s e c o n ta c t us a t: GET 1 FREE! JULY ) « » ONLY! Entire In -S to re S to ck' | i n d iv id u a l ly p r i c e d V O G U E PATTERNS Sale 5.49 ea. O ff e r v a n d J u ty H J -2 2 2 0 0 3 N o t v a b d vw tti a n y o t h e r d is c o u n t o ffe r Sale in effect July 7-22, 2003, on selected in-stock m erchandise only. Sorry, no special orders. Most items available in most stores. Look for the red sale fags. Please note: the term `regular p rice ' refers to Fabricland's regular chain-store price. O P E N S U N D A YS 12-5 905-338-0210 e -m a il: g ra c e a c a d e m y ^ s y m p q jflc o .c a 140 Rebecca St. O A K V ILLE 844-7728 is how to stay safe and brings home the message about bike. sun. water and at home safety." The Halton Summer Safety team was awarded the 2002 Injury Prevention Award for Ontario Red Cross, as they were successful in reaching more than 10.000 Halton children throughout last summer. "If we help just one child then this program is worthwhile." said Marie Casteller. one of this year's two coordi nators. "The safety talks are fun and interac tive to keep the interest and attention of the kids. It is a great opportunity for us as students to have such a strong impact on the community." This service is available to schools, summer camps, churches, daycare cen tres and any other groups that would be interested. Presentations are available for ages four years to adult. Although there is no current fee for this service the Red C ross gladly accepts donations to assist with this and other community serv ices. For more information or to book a presentation call Marie Casteller or Tasha Truant at 905-845-5241.