Dave of all trades joins Local Press family as reporter/photographer

By Staff

The Claresholm Local Press is welcoming a new personality to its team, and it’s one with a story as dynamic and diverse as the crowds he’s entertained.
David Gale, originally from Regina, Saskatchewan, has worn many hats over his four-decade career in entertainment and broadcasting – and now he’s adding “newspaper reporter” to the list.
Gale’s journey began with a passion for music and performance that would eventually culminate into 4,000 events as a DJ, including a European, six country tour, endless wedding celebrations and local performances opening for Canadian musical royalty such as April Wine, Tom Cochrane, Kim Mitchell, 54-40, The Jeff Healey Band, and many more.
Alongside his entertainment company, Gale expanded into broadcasting in 1999, working across multiple media including radio, television, and new media with some of the country’s most recognizable figures. Print, however, remained the one bridge he hadn’t crossed – until now.
Having moved from Calgary to Nanton in 2019, Gale said it was a sense of community he was seeking, something he’s found in abundance in Willow Creek. His decision to join the Claresholm Local Press is a natural step in blending his lifelong passion for communication with his commitment to the communities he calls home.
Gale is often heard on live video streams or on the local radio station as the play-by-play announcer for the Nanton Palominos and other hockey organizations in the area. As a sports broadcaster for the past four years, his voice has become a familiar part of the local hockey experience, further cementing his role as a trusted storyteller in Southern Alberta.
Gale’s career has also been marked by teaching and mentorship. He helped found Canada’s third DJ school and has taught broadcasting classes at J.T. Foster High School in Nanton, inspiring hundreds of students to create their own artistic journey.
In 2019, he and his wife, Amanda Bustard, transformed his childhood love of “airbanding” into a full-scale Western Canadian concert fundraiser. The event raised $50,000 for the Children’s Wish Foundation, proving Gale’s self-described title of “Funlanthropist” – someone who combines fun with giving – is more than just a catchphrase.
Most recently, Gale has been the driving force behind The HUB – Nanton Radio, a 24-hour online station serving the Willow Creek area, where he continues to operate as station manager and program director. His entrepreneurial energy extends far past just a passion for media and, no matter where Gale directs his energy, he always does it with a focus on fun and community spirit.
As Gale embarks on this new chapter with the Claresholm Local Press, he brings with him not only decades of experience but also a deep appreciation for the communities of Southern Alberta. For Gale, the move into print is more than a career milestone – it’s the missing piece of a lifelong adventure in storytelling, entertainment, and connection.