It’s Time to Say Goodbye!

On July 1st, 1959, I got a phone call from an acquaintance who happened to be the sports director of our local radio station. I’d known him because, as an 18-year-old, I played, with some success, all kinds of sports, but more particularly high school football and with our local hockey teams.?

“Hi Dave, it’s Al McCann. I’ve got an opening for a sports announcer. Are you interested?” “Absolutely,” I replied.

And so, at age 18, my long, fascinating and most interesting career in the media, or more specifically, journalism, began. It’s been exciting because it certainly has been that at times, but interesting and fascinating, also captures much of what has happened during the past 65 years.

Now, on December 31st, 2024, this active part of my life will end as I retire as the editor of BoardRoom magazine.

Mine has been one of those careers where a person simply falls into it. Never, while finishing high school, had I thought about a journalism career because, like so many young people, I really didn’t have a clue about what I wanted to do. My media journey has been a winding trail through radio, television, newspapers and finally, BoardRoom magazine…and there’s nary a day I regret or forget anything that’s happened during that time.

My trail has taken me from radio sports to the local newspaper in Lethbridge, Alberta, where I worked as a sports reporter and then as a general reporter before moving to my next small-town daily newspaper, the Red Deer Advocate, and my position as a sports editor at the age of 21.

A couple of years later, a sports reporter position at a larger metropolitan newspaper, the Edmonton Journal, followed. Then came a general reporter’s assignment before the political beat offered another exciting opportunity.

Around that time, one thing became quite apparent to me. I had oodles of questions about our world, our societies, and our politics that, in my mind, remained unanswered. How could I resolve the constant need to know more? How could I give sway to my skepticism that was as much curiosity? Two good qualities to own as a journalist, but I had to quench my thirst for knowledge.

For me, university offered the answer and thus began another segment of my life that ended six years later when I graduated with a Master’s Degree from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. And now, married with three kids, I also needed to work to support our family. So, during those six years, I also worked full-time as a journalist and then as a writer for the university’s public relations department.

After my university graduation, radio and television beckoned and close to 20 years with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) as a reporter, a current affairs television on-air personality and producer and radio opinion commentator followed as the next steps of my long, rewarding career. These years marked one of my career’s most significant time periods.?

When considering attending university as a ‘mature adult student,’ an aptitude test was one of the entrance requirements and a time when I learned much more about myself. Becoming a lawyer surfaced as the number one trait on that test, followed by being a pastor (which meant following in my father’s footsteps) and, thirdly, a teacher. I quickly bypassed life as an attorney and a preacher.

So, my calling as a teacher led to my appointment as a tenured university professor and almost 10 years as director of the University of Regina Journalism and Communications program in Regina, Saskatchewan. One more newspaper appointment as director of planning followed before we, as a family, moved to Calgary, Alberta…also the hometown of BoardRoom’s CEO, John Fornaro and my introduction to BoardRoom, which John, after moving to the U.S. had established in Laguna Beach, CA.

Twenty-five years ago, as one of our printing firm’s owners, we printed the BoardRoom magazine for John. Printing in Canada at the time made a lot of sense because the American dollar was worth so much more than the Canadian loonie.

Not too long afterward, John happened to be looking for an editor and co-publisher for BoardRoom, and so began the final stage of my career. My credentials fit the bill.?

My 25 years working in the private club industry began earlier as a member of several private clubs, so I had a pretty good idea of what to expect as editor based on my journalism background and private club experiences. Now it’s time to pass the torch, and Heather Arias de Cordoba, currently our chief content officer (and who also happens to be my daughter), takes on the role of editor. I will transition to editor emeritus—staying involved with the editorial direction while continuing to write the cover stories as needed. Ownership of BoardRoom remains with our CEO John Fornaro and Heather and me as part owners.

Heather’s well qualified, knows the industry and its people very well, and, along with John and the rest of the group, will help take BoardRoom, Distinguished Clubs , Distinguished Golf Destinations and Boardroom Institute to greater heights.?

So, I express my heartfelt gratitude to my wonderful wife, Gail, who has traveled this winding trail with me for 62 years and to my family for their support. This includes my eldest daughter Karen, her husband Al, and their children Bailey, Braden, Brandon, and Breanne; my son Scott, his wife Dawn, and their son Brennan; as well as Heather and her children, Kaden and Kaiya. I’m especially proud that Kaiya has recently joined the BoardRoom team as our new marketing coordinator. I also want to thank the many mentors and colleagues I’ve worked with over the years, especially during my BoardRoom days. Yep, it’s been a pretty good run!

Dave White, editor, BoardRoom magazine