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George Garrett: Intrepid Reporter
“George Garrett is one of the most remarkable reporters of news that I have ever known. He has always had the ability to smell a good story and to report on it honestly and accurately.” ―Jim Pattison, Canadian business magnate Starting from humble beginnings as a farm boy in Saskatchewan, George Garrett rose through the ranks of journalism and came to be known as the reporter who, as radio personality Rafe Mair recalled, “seemed to know details almost as soon as the police did” on such infamous stories as the Clifford Olson murders. He was willing to take risks to get to the real story, which resulted in his being assaulted in the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles among many other scrapes. In this memoir, Garrett shares the behind-the-scenes tales of his harrowing, humorous and occasionally humiliating investigative tactics, from posing as an accident victim to uncover the questionable practices of an insurance claim lawyer, to acting as a tow truck driver to expose a forgery scheme, and baring it all for the sake of an interview with a local nudist colony. Garrett also delves into the personal details of his life, sharing the hardships and resilience that marks him as an empathetic storyteller. He reveals the heartbreaking loss of his son in a canoeing accident, and his wife Joan’s devastating diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease which inspired him to dedicate his time to supporting the Alzheimer Society. Through it all, George Garrett never lost the insatiable curiosity that, according to Rafe Mair, made him the “standard by which good reporting is judged.”
288 pages, Paperback
Published September 7, 2019
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About the author
George Garrett
107 books13 followers(For the British short story writer, playwright, and political activist see George Garrett)
George Palmer Garrett was an American poet and novelist. He was the Poet Laureate of Virginia from 2002 to 2006. His novels include The Finished Man, Double Vision, and the Elizabethan Trilogy, composed of Death of the Fox, The Succession, and Entered from the Sun. He worked as a book reviewer and screenwriter, and taught at Cambridge University and, for many years, at the University of Virginia. He is the subject of critical books by R. H. W. Dillard, Casey Clabough, and Irving Malin.
George Palmer Garrett was an American poet and novelist. He was the Poet Laureate of Virginia from 2002 to 2006. His novels include The Finished Man, Double Vision, and the Elizabethan Trilogy, composed of Death of the Fox, The Succession, and Entered from the Sun. He worked as a book reviewer and screenwriter, and taught at Cambridge University and, for many years, at the University of Virginia. He is the subject of critical books by R. H. W. Dillard, Casey Clabough, and Irving Malin.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 8, 2019
What an interesting Book.
For 40 years, from his roots as a small down Saskatchewan farm boy with aspirations to being an announcer on farm town radio, to being one of the most respected voices in Big City Vancouver radio, George Garrett tells his tale that made him a daily institution. He never compromised his integrity, gaining favour with the newsmakers from politicians and the elite to the heroin users in the street by never putting investigations at risk, or unfairly portraying those in the spotlight for the sake of a story.
His motto 'Give for you never know when you may need to receive' served him well.. his unrelenting curiosity and genuine humility made him approachable and undaunting when it came to getting a story out of people.. and he kept their trust by being upfront, protecting his sources, and not compromising investigations. He proved several times that keeping his integrity over getting a story out first was a cornerstone to respect in an industry where Respect was often tossed by the wayside for an interesting byline.
Some of the flow in the book was a little jumpy, and there were lots of small stories that could have been much more indepth, lots of details I felt left out.. but I suppose out of a 40 year career and the book written pretty much at a kitchen table without 40 years of notes That is to be expected. George wrote this with an outline, a table of topics, and a pen and paper. Afterwards an editor corrected names and quotes, but this was a labour of sheer memory power, and the laundry list of high profile names was unending. As a testiment to how much he meant to BC his final retirement party listed former Prime ministers, premiers, celebrities, and dignitaries that wouldn't look out of place at a State Funeral.
I look forward to meeting George on Saturday.
For 40 years, from his roots as a small down Saskatchewan farm boy with aspirations to being an announcer on farm town radio, to being one of the most respected voices in Big City Vancouver radio, George Garrett tells his tale that made him a daily institution. He never compromised his integrity, gaining favour with the newsmakers from politicians and the elite to the heroin users in the street by never putting investigations at risk, or unfairly portraying those in the spotlight for the sake of a story.
His motto 'Give for you never know when you may need to receive' served him well.. his unrelenting curiosity and genuine humility made him approachable and undaunting when it came to getting a story out of people.. and he kept their trust by being upfront, protecting his sources, and not compromising investigations. He proved several times that keeping his integrity over getting a story out first was a cornerstone to respect in an industry where Respect was often tossed by the wayside for an interesting byline.
Some of the flow in the book was a little jumpy, and there were lots of small stories that could have been much more indepth, lots of details I felt left out.. but I suppose out of a 40 year career and the book written pretty much at a kitchen table without 40 years of notes That is to be expected. George wrote this with an outline, a table of topics, and a pen and paper. Afterwards an editor corrected names and quotes, but this was a labour of sheer memory power, and the laundry list of high profile names was unending. As a testiment to how much he meant to BC his final retirement party listed former Prime ministers, premiers, celebrities, and dignitaries that wouldn't look out of place at a State Funeral.
I look forward to meeting George on Saturday.
March 29, 2019
I really enjoyed George's book. He reported on so many BC stories over his decades in the media. The book shows what went on behind the scenes and how he got the stories. One thing I found surprising: I had no idea George went undercover so many times to get a story, including getting into Government House in Victoria and confronting the premier of the day.
I came across George a few times over the years as he was often seen prowling the halls of the Vancouver Police Department in search of news. He had time for everyone and that is one of his great assets. As a result everyone liked talking to him. I remember him saying to anyone he came across: "I'm looking for a story." He writes in the book about his many contacts in law enforcement and elsewhere. It's a great read.
I came across George a few times over the years as he was often seen prowling the halls of the Vancouver Police Department in search of news. He had time for everyone and that is one of his great assets. As a result everyone liked talking to him. I remember him saying to anyone he came across: "I'm looking for a story." He writes in the book about his many contacts in law enforcement and elsewhere. It's a great read.
March 24, 2019
This was a great tale of George's adventure-filled life. I enjoyed reading about his early years in depression era/war-time Saskatchewan. I was amazed at the lengths George went to get the story and how dedicated he was to reporting that story accurately and with compassion. His book is a mini history of the major news stories in the last 50 years of BC's history. True to George's nature all proceeds of his book are going to Volunteer Cancer Drivers.
June 9, 2022
George has a wonderful way of storytelling. In this book, I’ve learned so much about Canadian journalism through his eyes as an up and coming radio journalist. I throughly enjoyed every story he told - I felt like I could hear his voice in person as I read through the book. Thank you for this wonderful insight on your wonderful career and life. ♥️
March 8, 2022
Very interesting factual stories of a CKNW reporter, George Garrett, who has received numerous Achievement awards to his name.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews