John Gormley leaves flagship show after 25 years on Sask. airwaves

Rawlco Radio’s John Gormley shared with listeners Wednesday morning that he is stepping away from his flagship radio show that has shaped Saskatchewan conversations for more than two decades.

While hesitant to call the move retiring, he is departing from the broadcast world to pursue other interests after marking a 25-year milestone in September. His last show is to air Nov. 24.

“I’ve been blessed beyond words and honoured to have had the opportunity to host this radio show and to work with so many remarkable people and you, the listeners, who have brought me into your lives for so many years,” Gormley said.

“To have met you personally, to have visited with you and your families, taken selfies, autographed books, watched you model your ‘angry Gormley listener’ T-shirts, and to have had you in my life, this has touched me profoundly, and it’s been an honour to have shared this time with you.”

Gormley has sparked meaningful debate since the inception of his show in 1998, which has anchored the programming lineup on News Talk Radio in Saskatchewan.

The Gormley show has provided a platform for Saskatchewan people to share opinions freely. His mandate from Day 1 has been clear: To entertain audiences as a distinct entity outside of news coverage.

After a brief stint as a Conservative MP for Battlefords-Meadow Lake, Gormley completed a law degree at the University of Saskatchewan. He was practising as a lawyer in Edmonton when he received the offer to return to his roots in radio.

Gormley remains dedicated to the art of broadcasting, weaving ethical debates and humorous musings about prairie life into the show.

“There’s no doubt John’s show has helped shape the province as we know it today, and we aim to continue bringing our listeners programming that resonates with the people who live here,” said Murray Wood, vice-president of programming for 650 CKOM and 980 CJME.

Listeners scramble to their phones every Wednesday in an attempt to answer Saskatchewan’s Smartest Radio Listener question. Regulars know to save their rants for Thursdays when they can call into Bugs Day, the Hour of Rage. And game day in Saskatchewan wouldn’t be complete without Rider Prognostications, an opportunity for armchair quarterbacks to make their predictions.

A series of portraits taken in 1998 to promote John Gormley’s talk show on News Talk Radio. Photo credit: f:11 photographic design ltd.

Through the years, celebrities such as John Cleese, Bob Newhart, Suzanne Somers, Randy Bachman, Burton Cummings and, most recently, Jerry Seinfeld have appeared on the show.

Politicians of various stripes have agreed to spar on airwaves with the former MP, including Justin Trudeau (in his early days), Prime Minister Paul Martin, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Jack Layton and Jagmeet Singh. When former presidents George Bush Sr. and Bill Clinton visited Saskatchewan, John was on stage with them.

Gormley has written two books. His first, “Left Out: Saskatchewan’s NDP and the Relentless Pursuit of Mediocrity,” is a Canadian bestseller. His second book, “The Gormley Papers: I’m Right and You Know It,” compiles noteworthy newspaper columns he wrote for the Saskatoon StarPhoenix and Regina Leader-Post.

The longtime host has participated in countless charitable endeavours during his tenure, including raising more than $1.3 million for prostate cancer treatment in Saskatoon and significant funds for the Hospitals of Regina Foundation.

Gormley plans to remain in Saskatchewan, stay involved in the community, practise labour and employment law, and travel with his spouse, Marie.