If you knew Clint Forster you were lucky. If you didn’t, hopefully you have someone like him in your life. Someone genuine, gentle, humble and energetic. Hard working and enterprising – ambitious and unassuming. A loyal friend.
Clint was born in Saskatoon City Hospital to Greta May (Coutts) and George Clinton Forster. He grew up with his younger brother Elgin on Riverview Farm, pioneered by his grandfather, near Loreburn, Saskatchewan. Clint’s work ethic was developed as he tended farm animals and helped with the harvest. Early years of education in a one room prairie school and then Nutana High School in Saskatoon sparked a life- long interest in learning. Pitching Baseball was his passion along with figure skating, Boy Scouts, Car Club and YMCA gymnastics. He was President of Nutana choir to earn a half credit but couldn’t hit a note!
Jack, the resident farmhand, sparked Clint’s interest in radio as they spent many hours together repairing radios. Immediately after high school Clint headed for Toronto to study Communications at DeVry and that is where he met Carole Green, newly arrived from England, at a Boy Scout, Girl Guide service project. That night he told his friends he had met the girl he was going to marry.
On August 17, 1963 Clint and Carole married in Thistletown United Church and set up house in Kitchener Ontario where Clint was working at CKCO TV as a camera-man, sound engineer and studying Business at Waterloo University. When Clint was tapped on the shoulder to lead a bid for unionizing the TV Station, Clint quickly found a job as Sales Manager with the Cable TV company in Guelph, Ontario. It was there he realized his passion for the new Cable TV Industry. His entrepreneurial spirit was awakened and one night he arrived home to announce that he had quit his job, bought a cherry picker truck with the $2,500 saved to buy a house and was embarking on a new venture with Dave Gow and Jack Milligan. Noram Communications was born and Clint became a pioneer in the Cable TV Industry. After many ups and downs Noram built several Cable systems in Ontario and eventually Clint and his partners built four Cable Systems of their own, Mississauga, Bramalea, Fergus-Elora and Hanover-Walkerton.
Finances were tight as banks were wary of this new industry. Miraculously one day Ted Rogers appeared at the office, curious about the new Cable TV thing. Typical of Ted, he threw a significant cheque on the desk and offered to buy Bramalea. Ted saved Noram from bankruptcy and he acquired his first Cable TV Company from Clint. In 1974 Clint was awarded Cable TV licenses for several prairie cities including Saskatoon. He sold the Ontario companies and moved the family to Saskatoon to build Saskatoon Telecable and several others. While in Saskatoon his love of radio prompted him to buy a bankrupt country music radio station, CJWW, and built it into the number 1 AM station in Saskatchewan. Several other Prairie and one Vancouver radio station were gradually acquired.
During the building of businesses Clint and Carole welcomed three children, Lesley, Paul and Kendra to the family. Always an entrepreneur, Clint and his friend Ken Brydon canvassed the neighbourhood, selling pools and built seven pools which paid for one each for the Forsters and Brydons. The Forster pool was a magnet for all the kids in the area and Carole became the lifeguard. He and Ken bought a Fifth Wheel Camper company out of bankruptcy and proceeded to build Fifth Wheel Campers. Unfortunately, the year following was the year of gas shortages and no one was buying so that venture didn’t last long, just long enough for the family to take some fun camping trips.
Clint and Carole met doing a service project and both of them continued community service wherever they lived. In Saskatoon Clint was co-chair of building a residence for women in need at the YWCA which Prince Charles opened. He also was co-chair of a several million-dollar fund raisers to build a new Saskatoon City Hospital. As President of the Saskatoon Rotary Club and lifetime member he headed many fund-raising campaigns. He helped Carole raise funds to build the Saskatchewan Ronald McDonald House and the Saskatoon Girl Guide House. For his business and charity efforts Clint received many awards.
Clint was most proud of his term as Chairman of the Canadian Cable TV Association and Chairman of the Saskatoon Board of Trade. He was also proud of the many young people he mentored in the Cable TV, Radio and the Arts.
With the sale of Saskatoon Telecable to Shaw Cable, Clint was able to slow down, take stock and move to Victoria BC in 1991 where he was able to spend more time on the golf course, take up boating around the Gulf and San Juan Islands, research his ancestry, travel and write his memoir. Not enjoying the gloomy Victoria winters, he and Carole bought a home in Palm Springs and spent over 20 years enjoying the sun and making new friends. Serving on the Shaw Board and also the Corus Entertainment Board, the UVIC Business School Board and helping build the Canadian Parents Against Drugs organization gave him much satisfaction. He and Carole decided to take a portion of their wealth and share it with others. They have supported the Victoria Hospital Foundation, Cancer Research Center, Threshold, New Roads Recovery Center for Men and the new Recovery Center for Women, Anawim Women’s Home, First Nations Friendship Center, Salvation Army to name a few. They have also set up the Forster Foundation Fund at the Victoria Foundation and the Saskatoon Foundation. To honour Clint, donations to these two funds would be gratefully accepted.
Five days before Clint passed away Clint and Carole celebrated their 61st Wedding Anniversary surrounded by their children, Lesley (John) Courtney, Kendra (Cory) Rodych, Paul (Nick Harmon) Forster, grandchildren Liam (Katie Turay), Jackson (Macy Sargeant) and Quinn (Jesse Gossard) Courtney, Cole (Julia Szarka) and Riley Rodych and great-grandson Theodore Courtney. A bittersweet gathering as it was also time for the family to say their “goodbyes” to their beloved Poppa. Clint passed away peacefully at home with the help of MAID, comforted by Carole, his children and spouses and loyal pup Tula. Also left to mourn are Clint’s sister-in-law Julie Green, her sons Adam, Josh and Sam Sousa; nephew Chad (Chantal & Soraya) Forster and many family and friends.
A Celebration of Life will be held for Clint on Sunday, October 6, 2024 at 3:00 pm at Uplands Golf Club in Victoria BC.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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Rob and Bette McAdams
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Marcel de la Gorgendiere Alison and I wish to assure Carole and family of our profound sympathy as we read of the passing of Clint. We have many fond memories of our times together with Clint and Carole revolving around work with the Saskatoon Board of Trade and at Saskatchewan and Canadian Chamber of Commerce events. They had all the good aspects of family gatherings forming deeper relationships. We hope you can take comfort from the deep appreciation and respect that Clint’s work has been held in Saskatoon.
Marcel and Alison de la Gorgendiere
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BOB ANDERSON In 1984, I was recruited by Clint to become his VP of Cable operations at Saskatoon Telecable. The industry was young, and there were many opportunities to move up. Clint and I spent a lot of time together building Telecable into an industry leader noted for innovation, customer care, and employee satisfaction. I learned a lot from him, and I will always be grateful for his unwavering support and commitment to high standards in all areas of the company. He was a man who liked bold decisions and hard work, but he also ensured staff were properly cared for and supported in their careers. I recall how proud we were to see Clint appointed Chairman of the national Cable TV association around 1985, a very prestigious position which came with a lot of responsibility and respect by the major industry players and the CRTC. Clint had that rare and amazing gift of being able to bring together many disparate views amongst stakeholders large and small on important issues, yet still come up with viable solutions everyone could live with and feel good about. His business meetings usually concluded on a high note, with laughter and positive feelings by all. If only there were more leaders who could do that today! It must also be noted that Clint and Carole often quietly supported local non profit organizations that worked to improve the quality of life in Saskatoon. Their support for worthy causes was impressive, and always much appreciated. Clint never forgot where he came from, and used his financial gifts to help the less fortunate in meaningful ways, never seeking any publicity or personal gain from it.
Finally, I will always be grateful to Clint for the wonderful personal and professional growth I experienced in the years we worked together. He was an amazing mentor and a wonderful man. He will be missed. Read less
Bob Anderson
September 04, 2024
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Judi Barnes Dear Carole, I’m sending a hug from me to you to let you know that today and every day, I hold you in my heart. I’m so sorry for your loss. My condolences to you and your family.
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Jim Dutton Dear Carol
Clint was a wonderful guy and part of a dynamic team for 61 years
You were lucky to have found one another and spend such a wonderful life together
My sincerest condolences to you and your family
Jim Dutton
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Marc Paris I am deeply saddened by the news of Clint’s passing. Clint was a huge supporter as a founding member of the board of Directors of Drug Free Kids Canada (formerly Partnership for a Drug Free Canada).
His encouragement, financial support and wise counsel was ever present during the early years of the organization and throughout.
I have fond memories of personal dinners on the eve of our board meetings.
I knew Clint professionally when he was a broadcaster and admired him for his business acumen, his kindness and integrity. He was one of the reasons I joined DFK Canada as its first Executive Director.
His contribution to society and this organization is immeasurable.
My deepest condolences to Carol and the Forster family.
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Grace and Alan Lowe Dear Carole,
What a pleasure it was to have shared laughs and good times with you and Clint! He was certainly an exceptional man, what a loss for you and your family. We are thinking of you at this difficult time, may you cherish wonderful memories and celebrate Clint’s legacy with family and friends. Hugs, Grace and Alan
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Claude Duke I was saddened to hear of Clint’s passing. We attended Nutana at the same time. I always found him to be a classy guy. Good natured and fun loving.
He will be missed by all who knew him. May happy memories sustain during this difficult time.
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Marilyn and Charles Wright Carole and family, we are sorry to hear of Clint’s passing. Memories of Clint during my time at City Hospital in Saskatoon are ones that remain so clear. May his memory be a blessing.
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Vic Dubois On behalf of my wife Bev and myself, sincerest condolences to Clint’s family. I was so sorry to hear of his passing. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to him for having faith in me to manage the radio assets of Forvest Broadcasting from 1993 until we sold in 2001. Clint was always reasonable and understanding and a pleasure to work for. As fate would have it, I was fortunate enough to speak with him on the phone from Saskatoon on August 16, at which time I found out about the seriousness of his health situation. It’s very sad to realize he is not with us anymore.
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John Thomas Having spent many happy times with Clint and Carole on the golf course, at many cable tv events, at their homes in La Quinta and Victoria we were very saddened to learn of Clint’s passing. He was an absolute joy to be with at work and various social gatherings.
I was honoured to work with Clint as a Director when he was Chairman of the CCTA. He served our industry with integrity and professionalism at all times!
We will miss him with our hearts and thoughts going out to Carole and family at this difficult time.
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Shirlinell Hopkins Lesley, thinking of you and your family. I am happy for Clint and Carol that he was able to use MAID, such an amazing thing – my mom had the same.
Clint was an amazing man with many great accomplishments, although I am sure his children and grandkids would be the greatest joy.
Hope your hearts are filled with good memories. Shirlinell Hopkins
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Myles Myrol I met Clint in 1992, when I started working for Cjww radio. His pleasant demeanor made him instantly likeable and approachable. In the mid 90’s a new sales initiative was introduced to the sales team. I won , and Clint presented me with the “Presidents Tie award The tie was a gaudy pattern with a jumble of mis-matched colours, and would be best described as close to ugly. It was all in fun. With camaraderie & good natured teasing as the tie was installed around my neck. We all wore shirts and ties back then. Clint’s acknowledgement and encouragement was appreciated. When he and Carole sold the company the staff and their spouses and partners were treated to a very lavish and memorable party with generous gifts for all. In later years I become the general sales manager for the company and I endeavoured to add some fun into appropriate aspects of our Job. Clint would have approved. He will be greatly missed. My sympathy to the entire family.
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Jan and John McDonald Sorry for your loss. Clint will be missed.
The notice of his passing was a great tribute to his life.
Jan and John McDonald
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Dawn Woroniuk It was an honour to work for Clint at his stations in Saskatoon. He was a class act who was very kind and generous to his employees!! Especially when he gave his staff bonus days at Christmas!! Getting to work with his family and calling them all friends is a true legacy that he left. Deepest sympathy to Carole, Lesley, Paul, Kendra and all your families. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Dear Carole,
We were so sorry to hear the very sad news about Clint. He will be missed so very
Much by all who knew and loved him. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and
All your family at this very difficult time.
Rob and Bette McAdams