Vox Pop with Marty Forbes

It’s an honour—after almost 30 years of him writing about me—that I get to turn the tables on Graham Hicks.
If you haven’t already heard, Graham hangs up his word processor at the Edmonton Sun at the end of this year.
An Ottawa native, he came to our fair city in 1978; originally working in the entertainment department of the Edmonton Journal. When the upstart Sun came to town in 1981, Graham was one of the first it attracted across the river.
After legendary Donna Marie Artuso went on to other things in 1992, Graham moved to Page Six—probably the most read portion of the daily paper. Since that time, he has covered this city like a blanket and made major contributions to charities in our city.
Graham figures that he has written around 7,000 columns and enjoys being the “town crier” in Edmonton. He suggests there are “very few that call a spade a spade in journalism.”
I had the opportunity to ask him a few questions:
What’s the best part of gig? “If you’re suited for it, it’s one of the best jobs in the world. No end to social contact. You’re paid to be a conscience… to be objective. Who else has that? I’m paid to speak the truth and not the spin. Nobody cares where you are as long as you deliver. There’s great freedom in the job. It’s a natural art form for me”.
And the obvious: What’s the worst part of gig?” “Absolutely, the all-encompassing nature of the job. I’m very curious to find out who Graham Hicks really is outside of the battle of the last 30 years. The gig is 24/7/365 if you let it.”
The balance in his life comes from his huge family focus. “My wife Maria raised three beautiful and talented daughters (Liza, 21, Salina, 19 and Cynthia, 16)while I worked. Maria kept it all together. She’s in charge of domestic affairs, I’m in charge of external.”
In a role as all encompassing as the scribe of Hicks on Six, Graham has met some of the most interesting people in town as well as several celebrities. What’s the most interesting interview you’ve done?
“It all seems like a giant blur right now: There are so many highlights. I guess interviewing Bob Marley through a haze of marijuana smoke stands out… the Strippers picketing me at The Sun for not writing about their Santas Anonymous fund raising event. I’ve never lost a lawsuit but I’ve had to apologize several times in my career.”
The charity connection in Edmonton is simply huge and Graham explains: “I’ve been blessed in life….it isn’t a problem paying it forward. To whom much is given much should be expected. It’s a responsibility of this job.”
The list is too long to print but suffice to say Graham thinks he’s raised in the neighborhood of $4 million over the years. The biggest ones to benefit are the recipients of the annual Christmas drive he started: Christmas Bureau, Adopt-a-Teen, The Sun Charity Auctions, plus the United Way, Catholic Social Services, and Stollery Children’s Hospital. His Adopt-a-Teen at Christmas is unique and respectful of the need.
Graham thanks his media and corporate pals in town for backing him on these big initiatives. When he calls, the media listens—and reacts. His “dinners with pals” program is supported by virtually every top restaurant in town.
Another fun little thing he started a few years ago with Rob Christie has grown to be part of the cultural aspect of Edmonton. It’s the remarkably successful get-together called The Art of Conversation. “It just took off. It’s one of my joys each month where I get to mingle with a crowd of good people who put their Blackberrys and iPhones away for just an hour or two to talk about life.

Graham Hicks and Marty Forbes

“This was born out Rob returning and realizing we were now the senior members of the media… it was time to honour the traditions of the great old guys but they were all alcoholics, so this was our solution. “
The next phase of Graham’s life is to start his own small company. When he turned 50, he made a promise to himself that he wanted to do some thing different when he was 60. He wants to continue to learn… to grow and experience life, cutting down from 60 to 40 hours a week, but to still give back to the community. He has lots of ideas about what he could do, admitting only that it will be “in communications”. No surprise there.
I gave Graham the last word:
“It’s been a wonderful career in a great city – and I can’t wait for the next 10 years.”
I want to thank you personally for being a great contributor to Edmonton, Graham, and for the friendship we’ve enjoyed all these years. I know we’ll all be bumping into you over the next few months – so enjoy the accolades you so deserve.
Is it time to reveal the “Deep Six” in media who used to give you all the ratings info and gossip? Nah… let’s keep that our little secret. √