Fonds F1179 - H. Gordon Love fonds

Herbert Gordon Love, 1890-1971, was born in Dutton, Ontario, and came to Calgary, Alberta in 1911 where he worked at a bank. He married Mabel Clarke, 1891-1975, in 1915 and they had three children, James A., William N., and Flora (Carter). Mabel was the daughter of the J.W. Clarkes, who came from Orangeville, Ontario in the 1880s and owned a Calgary music store. After marrying, Gordon and Mabel moved to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan where Gordon operated a fruit wholesale business and a fire-brick plant.

In 1922 they returned to Calgary where Gordon worked as manager for Radio Corporation of Calgary Ltd. In 1923 he became manager of H.G. Love and Company, Limited, dealing in Westinghouse radio and electrical supplies. The company later sold automotive supplies until its closing ca. 1935. Gordon acquired control of CFCN - the Voice of the Prairies in 1928, and in 1931 boosted the station's power making it Canada's most powerful broadcasting station. He became CFCN's president in 1933. In 1954 he headed CHCT-TV, Calgary's first television station, a joint venture including CFCN. CFCN later withdrew from this affiliation and became CFCN-TV. Gordon sold CFCN radio and TV in 1966 to Maclean-Hunter. He became a director of the Farm and Ranch Review in 1946 and president in 1954. The paper was sold in 1967 to the Montreal Star.

Gordon was elected president of the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede in 1961, and was also president of various other organizations. Love received an honorary doctorate from the University of Calgary in 1967. He was inducted into the CAB Broadcast Hall of Fame in 1982.

For further information see "The Radio Pioneer - Gordon Love" in Alberta Titans : From Rags to Riches during Alberta's Pioneer Days / Susan Warrender. -- Canmore, Alberta, 2003, p. 60-74.