Biography

I moved my family here in 1990 to work with Monarch Broadcasting. when we arrived in Medicine Hat that hot August we knew this would be a place to call home, a place to raise our two young boys. Thirty-five years later I think we could say that's exactly what we did.

My career at Monarch; which eventually became a Pattison company, was rich and varied. Coming from an on air background myself, my job was to guide the radio stations to be the best they could be with a budget that demanded creative and careful accounting. Honing the on air talent and guiding creative marketing to command the lions share of audience and advertising revenue. A job we excelled at while winning several awards including Radio Station of the Year and several Personality of Year distinctions.

Community involvement was very much a part of our everyday lives, we existed to serve the community. There was no event that we did not endeavour to be a part of. Our goal was to touch every single person in our community through daily interactions on every level.

​

After I retired from broadcasting I was excited to get into the restaurant business with my good friend Regas Evangelos. We had a great many good years at The Cheesecake Cafe. Once again our mission was to help our guests create wonderful memories. Community and marketing was once again integral to our success, garnering us the award for Marketing Excellence from The Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce and Franchise of the Year on our first year of operation. 

​

Community is integral to our lives here. I volunteered as a coach and eventually head sensei and president of the Medicine Hat Judo Club for twenty-five years. Also serving a term as VP of Finance for Judo Alberta for one term.

It was my great honour to be the Judo Sport Chair for two Alberta Winter Games taking place in Medicine Hat. I was honoured to receive a Civic Recognition Award in 2013 for Community Inclusion based on our collective efforts at the judo club.

My volunteer efforts for the passed eight years now have focused on The Great Cycle Challenge. Raising money to fight kids cancer. In that time I've ridden 9500 kilometers and raised $38,000. I've ridden almost every local trail multiple times and yet every so often I find one more that's new to me.

 
Family is first and foremost in all I do. Both of our boys were born while we were based in Edmonton but were raised in Medicine Hat. After graduating from U of A both boys have settled down to make a home in that wonderful city. A doctor and an electrical engineer, both make their mom and dad very proud.

Food is a multilevel passion.  Started with the garden, I tend a fairly large crop every year. Mostly tomatoes and peppers, garlic, onions… Put them all together and you’ve got Hitchen’s Hot and Sloppy Salsa. It’s been enjoyed by friends and family across Canada, the US and parts of Europe. I produce enough to satisfy my family every year, that's quite a lot actually.