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The death occurred at Algonquin Grace Hospice, Huntsville on Thursday, August 30, 2012 of long-time local broadcaster Garth Thomas.

Garth arrived in Huntsville on July 1st, 1958 responding to the call of Norris MacKenzie who had just recently opened the airwaves of Muskoka-Parry Sound with the sounds of CKAR radio. Garth Thomas became the voice of radio in Huntsville for the next fifty years, acting as station manager, sports director and for over thirty years as a close associate of Santa Claus. The unique voice of Garth Thomas became the most familiar voice in the community as he made sure every young child in the community who had a successful moment on the sports field heard their name on the radio the next day.

 

Garth carried this same care and concern for our young athletes to the Huntsville Forester where he became sports editor and later overall editor of Huntsville’s community newspaper.

 

 Through his efforts at both CKAR and the Huntsville Forester, Garth was a tireless promoter of Huntsville and the Districts of Muskoka and Parry Sound. It was only natural that he be appointed general manager of the Muskoka tourism office in Gravenhurst.


Socially Garth Thomas was a presence in the community, serving as President of the Huntsville Rotary Club for a term and was a recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship Award, one of Rotary’s highest honors. 

 

Garth Thomas was also a long time member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 232, Huntsville.


In recent years Garth Thomas has been inducted into the Huntsville Sports Hall of Fame as a builder, the Town of Huntsville Parks & recreation committee recently named the sound booth in the Jack Bionda Arena “the Garth Thomas Booth” in recognition of his many hockey and lacrosse broadcasts, and with the arrival of the Winter Games Olympic Torch, Garth Thomas was one of twenty five Huntsville citizens’ honored by the Town of Huntsville.


With his arrival in 1958, Huntsville not only became home to Garth Thomas but became his family as well. Garth Thomas leaves behind all his friends and listeners as his immediate family, he loved you all so very much.

Visitation for Garth Thomas will be at Mitchell Funeral Home 15 High Street, Huntsville on Wednesday September 5th,  from 7-9pm                     

A celebration of the life of Garth Thomas will take place at the Royal Canadian Legion, Huntsville on Thursday, September 6th at 11am.

 

Donations to Huntsville Fire Department, Huntsville Hospital Foundation or Algonquin Grace Hospice would be appreciated.

 

 

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  1. Sure will miss you at the mall Garth I will always here that voice saying Rodney my boy God bless you Garth !

  2. Very sad to read about Garth Thomas passing. I remember when he and a young team of broadcasters joined CKAR in 1958. CKAR had a car for the staff to follow stories and they even had a SEAKAR….great memories. Thanks Garth for the many years promoting Huntsville….I can still hear your voice!!

  3. So deeply saddened on Garth’s passing. He was a great friend of almost 44 years. He will always be remembered for his great singing talent, his enthusiasm and great performances he gave to all the past Rotary Plays and Barber Shop concerts he was involved with. It was a privileged to entertain along side him and to be able to call him a true friend…Bill Farmer, Ayr, Onario

  5. I worked with Garth for many years, especially in lacrosse. He was a great supporter of Sports in Huntsville and of the young people who played them. He will be missed.Bill Nickalls

  6. Garth was certainly the voice and personality of minor sporrts in Huntsville. Over the years Garth and I became friends and it was always a pleasure to spend time chatting to Garth about the events in Huntsville and area. Santa will be missed.
    He will be missed be all involved in Huntsville.

  7. Garth was there when I joined CKAR in 1959. I liked him immediately, which was a good thing. Garth, Don Wilcox, Lou leslie, Jack Horahan and me all lived together in one big house. One of my favorite memories was the day Garth went smelt fishing and came home with a bucket filled with them–he cooked them up in butter for us and opened a case of beer….what a bachelor feast that was. We all loved the guy because of his humour and his kindness toward everybody he met. In a way, he belonged to us all.

  8. January 14th 1966 Garth was the CKAR Station Manager and George Young was Program Director.It was that day as a 19 year old, that I landed my first job as an announcer. I will always recall Garth’s encouragement to me and his wonderful smile. I will be eternally grateful to Garth and George for believing in me and giving me that all important first job. Rusty Draper

  9. In knowing Garth Thomas and calling him friend, the pleasure was all mine. A great guy in every facet of his full life.Shoix! Shoix! Shotzie!

  10. Garth loved local sport and the teams and individuals who represented Huntsville. The Huntsville Oldtimer Hockey Club has lost a true friend with Garth’s passing. His passion for reporting on aging hockey players has contributed immensely to the team’s rich history for nearly 4 decades. Garth will always be remembered for his enthusiasm and generosity when it came to promoting generations of recreational hockey players and their on-ice programs. Garth’s legacy will include fond memories of morning reports which were delivered with passion and creativity. Garth Thomas is a true Hall of Fame Friend to the wider Huntsville sport community and especially the Huntsville Oldtimers Hockey Club.

  11. When I arrived in Huntsville by train that day in September around 1957 it was Garth Thomas who said welcome to Huntsville Grant. I soon realized that Garth was a well recognized member of the community. My first opportunity to become a member of the CKAR announcing staff on a western music show. He was a great person to encourage those around him. Thanks Garth, Huntsville has lost a great citizen I’m sure.Just before I say goodbye to a great person could I pass on regrets from some of the other announcers who made up the team at CKAR. Lou Leslie,news, Bud Reilly, Don?

    Grant MITCHELL

  12. We will miss you so much Garth! You are a friend to all who knew you. As for me I will cherish my many memories from a young age spending time around you at the arena. Surely you were the one who inspired me to get into broadcasting in general and pulling some strings to get me into CKAR/CFBK & as a part time writer for the Forester then at your rival newspaper.Your words of encouragement have stayed with me & I truly thank you for everthing you did for me and the community of Huntsville. As I write this I shall never forget telling you the news story of the fateful day when the town season greeting sign collapsed on my car.We shared so many great laughs over many years.Rest well my friend!
    Benny

  13. All of Huntsville will miss this loved member of our community.He is family to everyone!!

  14. It’s with sadness we hear of Garth’s passing, he will be rememebered for his friendly smile whenever you met him, he was truly a community minded man.Sinecerely
    Eric & Ann Hutley

  15. Garth hired me in 1964, my first job in radio. I am still in the business 48 years later. Thank you Garth for my career – I will never forget you. George Grant

  16. Garth Thomas was to me one of the greatest person, one would want to know. My last visit with Garth is ingrained forever. God Bless you my friend. You will be remembered forever.Wheel

  18. Thank you Garth for being such a Great Encourager to so many people in Huntsville. Our Thoughts and Prayers go out to your family and friends as they go through this time in their lives.

  22. Huntsville has lost a truely great citizen, and an amazing promoter of our town.He will be greatly missed!!Len Clarke

  23. Huntsville, has surely lost a true gentle giant of a man. He will not soon be forgotten. Rest in Peace Shotzie…

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