Dave Graham signed off from 88.5 The Beach for the final time on Friday, July 31, ending a 40-year career in radio. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

SIGNING OFF

‘It’s a little bit surreal:’ Parksville radio personality hangs up headphones after 40-year career

Jul 31, 2020 | 11:51 AM

PARKSVILLE — Dave Graham may be leaving local airwaves, but he has no intention of saying goodbye to a community he’s called home for nearly 20 years.

Graham signed off from 88.5 FM The Beach on Friday morning, delivering a four minute farewell address detailing his career, his love for radio and the Oceanside area.

“It’s a little bit surreal after so many years and six weeks ago not knowing this was going to happen this week, this would be the end of my career,” Graham told NanaimoNewsNOW. “It’s a bit strange, nostalgic certainly and looking back at what’s been great fun.”

Graham started in radio as a high school student in 1977. He made stops in Ontario, Saskatchewan, Terrace and Courtenay before being drafted to 88.5 FM The Beach in 2003.

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The driving motivator over the last 43 years has been connection with the community, something he took special pride in doing in Parksville.

“You get out what you put in and for me the great joy is being able to connect with the movers and shakers of this area, the people that make this community hum. Just to be a part of that, in even an assistant kind of way…that is a great joy.”

Either willingly or as an unaware accomplis, Graham has played a role in key moments for countless people over the years.

“There was a time where a guy asked me to play a very specific song at a very specific time and he used that to ask his girlfriend for her hand in marriage…that’s a smaller thing but it’s a big impact on those people.”

A tireless community advocate who volunteers at many local events, Graham said he is keen to step out of the spotlight for a little while.

Graham’s focus will turn to his high school sweetheart, Shelagh, with whom he re-connected on Facebook many years ago.

“We realized right off the bat there was a spark so we kept this long distance thing going with the intent she would move out here one day…she was going to come out here three or four times when the universe had decisions and we had to postpone.”

Graham said he’s excited to be joined by her in the next couple of weeks.

“No reason to fear the changes coming here, I’m in a great place, I live in one of the best places on earth and I’m about to be joined by the love of my life so it all looks good.”

–with files from Spencer Sterritt

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley