Broadcaster inducted into high school’s wall of fame

By Rob Vogt, Local Press Writer

He has been dubbed the “Ryan Seacrest of Calgary sports hosting”, and now he is a member of the Willow Creek Composite High School Wall of Fame.

Joe McFarland, whose voice can be heard regularly on CHQR-77 radio in Calgary, was presented with the honour at the school’s academic achievement awards on Nov. 8.

Kirby Dietze, the school’s principal, introduced McFarland.

He was raised on the family farm near Carmangay and attended junior high and high school in Claresholm.

He was junior prom first prince in 2000 and named one of the most improved dancers. He was on the honour roll, appeared In drama productions, went on a school trip to California, played Cobras football, and graduated in 2001.

He took a year of accounting at the University of Lethbridge where a friend invited him to the university radio station.

This experience led him to enroll in broadcast journalism at Lethbridge College that fall, where he graduated with honours in 2005.

He worked at radio stations in Lloydminster and Medicine Hat, spent a year at CHQR in Calgary, then went back to Medicine Hat to launch a new radio station as news director. He moved back to Calgary in 2010 as a reporter.

McFarland has interviewed some notable people such as Stephen Harper, Ralph Klein, and Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi the night he was first elected.

He was promoted to news director at CHQR in September of 2013, and most recently became host of the afternoon news-talk program, Calgary Today, starting Sept. 4, 2018.

In his spare time, McFarland is the game-day sideline host for the Calgary Stampeders, University of Calgary Dinos football team, and Calgary Hitmen hockey team. He volunteers with the Calgary Bantam Football Association and has hosted a number of events for organizations such as Rugby Canada and Hockey Canada.

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Photo

honoured guest – Joe McFarland, who graduated from Willow Creek Composite High School in 2001, was inducted into the school’s Wall of Fame at the school’s academic achievement awards on Nov. 8. Here from left are McFarland receiving his plaque from Kirby Dietze, school principal; and Carmelle Steel, chair of the school alumni association. Photo by Rob Vogt