George Sumyie

January 12, 1939 - December 9, 2023

It is with regret but, also with love, that the relatives and close friends of George Sumyie announce his passing on Saturday, December 9, 2023, at the Eagle Ridge Hospital in Port Moody. He was 84 years of age. George is predeceased by his long time foster parents, Madge and William Hardy, and foster brother, Donald Hardy. He is survived by his foster sister Florence Sugawara, nieces Cindy Hardy, Helene Galt, Brenda Ramsdale and nephew Tak Sugawara.

George was born in Vancouver on January 12th, 1939. As his birth-mother was unable to raise him, he was placed in foster care. He stayed with his first foster family until he was 6 and then moved in with Madge and Bill Hardy. Following Bill's death George and Madge stayed together. George cared for Madge as her health failed and until her passing.

After George completed vocational school, he was hired by Stan Davis as a technician. Stan was starting a new business, Broadcast Technical Services, which offered construction of radio station studios and transmitter sites, technical advice and maintenance of studio and transmitter properties. The business grew and was contracted by many stations in British Columbia and then on the prairies. George's knowledge and experience of broadcasting facilities increased, and he became well known as one of the experts in AM broadcast transmitter maintenance and repair. He made many friends with those with whom he worked. He stayed with Broadcast Technical until the year 2000 when heart issues necessitated his retirement.

In addition to his successful technical career, George joined Ed Prefontaine and Harvey Davidson in an application to own and establish a new AM broadcasting station in Brandon, Manitoba, The necessary research and technical filings and a CRTC application led to a license being granted and CKLQ went on the air in 1977. CKLQ's success led to the purchase of the Big R radio network headquarterd in Salmon Arm in the early 1980's. In time, the partners and their shareholders sold both radio broadcasting operations.

One of George's loves was boating. Starting with the "The Celebration", a 28 ft Bayliner, George later purchased two high class Cooper yachts. Each was named "The Attitude". The first was a 10-meter version and the second 12-meters in length. He thoroughly enjoyed taking his family and friends on excursions, some for as long as 10 days, on the waters of Georgia Strait and to such locations as Desolation Sound, Knight Inlet, and the associated islands. As his health issues continued it became time to sell off his yacht. He really didn't want to do that but knew that it had to be done.

While he remained single all his life his nieces and his many friends and associates made him an important part of their lives. He was a wonderful, generous, and caring person and will be missed greatly.

A celebration of George's life will be held in the spring or early summer of 2024. Notice of a date and location will be made known once plans are finalized.

In memory of George, please consider a donation to one of the following organizations:
The Nikkei Foundation, The Heart and Stroke Foundation, BC Cancer Foundation or Diabetes Canada

From Myles Green in Penticton. (December 12, 2023)

Just heard some rather sad news...George Sumyie passed away on the weekend. His health had been going downhill for a while now. He died in hospital. I don't know how many of you knew George. He was on the quiet side but with smarts and a sense of humour.

After high school I ran into him again in Quesnel in 1964 where I worked at the local radio station CKCQ. George was working in a senior role for Stan Davis Engineering in Vancouver. They were highly skilled and performed radio work for various stations at the Coast and elsewhere around the province. The work they did was putting together your broadcasting equipment both inside your studios and at your towers. They devised a network system for us that connected our Quesnel and Williams Lake stations. In Williams Lake, the call sign was CKWL. This was the first radio network in Canada that was privately owned and operated, designed with a great deal of assistance from George Sumyie.

Anytime he was in town we had some great chats and laughs about our high school days on the North Shore. He remained working with Stan Davis pretty well up until Stan passed away. Stan Davis is in the Canadian Broadcasting Hall of Fame for the accomplishments of his engineering firm and I know personally that Stan gave a lot of credit to George for his contributions and knowledge in the Broadcast Industry. RIP George.

From Bill Wedley Dec. 12, 2023

Yes, George was a kind man, with smarts, and a good sense of humour.  If I recall correctly, he was interested in electronics and radio in high school.  It is interesting that he pursued that as his line of work.

I have a story about his sense of humour. About 20 or 30 years ago, I somehow had George Sumyie and Chris Taschner registered as “Deceased” on our database.   Of course, they eventually contacted us and said that as far as they know, they were still alive!

I do not know how the mistake was made, but I had to apologize.  Geroge laughed about it with a great big smile.  He enjoyed life.

I am saddened by the fact that this time it appears official.