Pat Markley
BCIT Broadcast Journalism program graduate 1981;
board operator/part time news CFMI-FM New Westminster 1981-84; news CKNW New
Westminster 1984-2000; first woman to work as 'pilot' or shift supervisor
fulltime at CKNW; novel writer current; historical interpreter
***
The Province
Marc Edge
March 9/90
Sportscaster "Big Al" Davidson was at the
centre of many newsroom battles, CKNW's station
manager told B.C. Supreme Court yesterday.
CKNW station manager Ron Bremner
told Justice Ian Donald many of the disputes were over Davidson's smoking,
especially those with reporter Pat Markley.
"Al used to smoke Gitane
cigarettes," said Bremner. "They resembled
in odor burning old athletic socks."
Markley especially objected to the smoke, which led to
several confrontations, Bremner said, including
threats of violence and flying ashtrays.
One day, Markley threw an ashtray. Davidson threatened
to "punch her face though the back of her head," Bremner
said.
"I can remember him literally shaking and turning
red, repeating over and over, 'Keep her away from me.' I was trying to calm him
down and I've got this lady over here, bawling.
"It was another day at 'NW."
Davidson is suing CKNW for wrongful dismissal,
claiming $281,000 in damages for the unpaid portion of his $75,000-yearly
contract.
Bremner -
who fired Davidson after 30 years on the job - said it was finally decided to
build a $3,000 Plexiglas booth around Davidson's desk to shield him from his
co-workers and ventilate his cigarette smoke.
But Davidson finally went too far
"I was prepared to give him the benefit of the
doubt until there was no doubt," Bremner said.
"That was the straw that broke the camel's back."
The trial continues.
***
Larry Still
April 27/90
Lawyer Irwin Nathanson noted
CKNW said Davidson threatened a station engineer who criticized his good
friend, morning DJ Brian (Frosty) Forst. He also
threatened reporter Pat Markley ("no shrinking violet"), who objected
to him smoking in the newsroom.
The lawyer reminded the court station manager Ron Bremner did not take the incidents seriously. He said Bremner, treating the threat to Markley as "harmless
outbursts" by the hot-tempered broadcaster, accepted responsibility for
allowing the situation to fester.
As for the life threat against Macrae,
allegedly made during a hockey game at the Pacific Coliseum, Nathanson said it was "blown totally out of
proportion" by Macrae.
He noted Davidson was not asked by management to
explain the incident at the Coliseum.