Nunavummiut plaster social media with memories of CBC broadcaster Kootoo Onalik's career
Onalik well-known for colourful weather forecasts and entertaining stories
For Kootoo Onalik, it's all about time.
About 18 years ago, the recently retired CBC North broadcaster protested a controversial Nunavut government experiment — one time zone for a territory that geographically stretches across three.
Onalik made it into the local newspaper for standing on the street in the capital city with a sign that blared, "Honk!!! To get the eastern time back."
On April 1, 2000, he took his protest to the next level.
"He set people up to think it was a different time than it really was," said Pat Nagle, CBC Nunavut's senior manager.
"The northern store opened an hour early. People went to ... work early, and it was all because of this April Fools' joke he played on the radio, which some people weren't too happy about, but other people got the joke. So I had some interesting phone calls after that one."
In March the next year, the government abandoned the experiment, after making four changes to the clock in 17 months, according to news reports from the time.
40 years at CBC North
On Thursday, Onalik hung up his earphones for the last time after nearly 40 years with CBC North.
He worked as a weekend morning show host, and started the Sunday request show.
Most recently he worked behind the scenes operating the morning show, Qulliq. He often regaled radio listeners with meandering quotes of the day and sharp jokes.
Many people from Nunavut and beyond have taken to social media to share their favourite memories of Onalik on air. Here are a few of those memories:
.<a href="https://twitter.com/CBCNunavut?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CBCNunavut</a>'s own Kootoo Onalik back when <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Nunavut?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Nunavut</a> had one timezone instead of three. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TBT?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TBT</a> <a href="http://t.co/73XA24xTud">pic.twitter.com/73XA24xTud</a>
—@jsponagleHonestly, my favourite radio combo was Abraham Tagalik and Kootoo Onalik. Might as well have been comedy hour.
—@TeirersiasAfter 38 years with CBC, the lengndary Kootoo Onalik is retiring today.<br><br>From his witty weather forecasts to his quirky catchphrases, Kootoo has informed and entertained on the radio waves across Inuit nunangat. <br><br>Everybody in the North has a favourite Kootoo moment. Here’s mine: <a href="https://t.co/J3Xuwm2ept">pic.twitter.com/J3Xuwm2ept</a>
—@NickMurray91