Both Gordon Leighton and his wife Peggy received Stage 4 cancer diagnoses earlier this month.
Gordon Leighton, a former member of the Prince George city council and a prominent local broadcaster, was remembered with a moment of silence on Monday.
On July 4, after Leighton and his wife Peggy received Stage 4 cancer diagnoses, a GoFundMe campaign was started. As of Wednesday morning, Scott McWalter of Prince George had donated $4,145 through his fundraiser.
“I just want to mention that from 1999 to 2022, we lost one of our council members. Gordon Leighton, the longtime general manager of CKPG, passed away last week in Vernon, according to Councilman Ron Polillo. “He relocated soon after his council term came to an end. He has therefore lived in Vernon for a number of years, but I know he was still well aware of what was taking place in Prince George. And he carried on with his radio career in the Okanagan before retiring around five years ago.
According to Castanet, Peggy Leighton announced on Facebook on July 18 that her “greatest partner and friend” had died quietly while surrounded by loved ones.
“Such a wonderful life have we shared. He was such a great man, she said.
After his retirement, Leighton initiated a push to establish a non-profit community radio station in the area and ran unsuccessfully for Vernon city council in 2018. 97.9 Valley FM is now streaming while raising money to erect a broadcast tower.
Additionally, he served as the BC Association of Broadcasters’ previous president.
Mayor Simon Yu remarked, “I think we all know Gord via his involvement here.
