October 17, 1962 – Terrace, British Columbia
June 27, 2023 - Calgary, Alberta
On Tuesday, June 27, 2023, Dan Carson passed away at his home in Calgary, AB, at the age of 60 years.
Dan was born in Terrace, BC, to parents, Elise Bellamy-Carson and Robert (Bob) Carson (both predeceased). Dan and his younger brother, Rick, and sister, Laura-Leigh, were raised in Smithers, BC, where Dan discovered an early love for sports, particularly golf and skiing. Dan spent his winters skiing at the Hudson Bay Mountain Resort and his summers golfing at the Smithers Golf and Country Club. At the age of 16, Dan began his career in broadcasting when a friend’s dad offered him a part-time job as the weekend news announcer at the local radio station. This job would spark a love for broadcasting that would stay with him for the rest of his life.
Dan was the valedictorian of his 1980 graduating class at Smithers Senior Secondary High School. He moved to Prince George, BC, to join CJCI Radio as their nighttime radio host, but quickly moved to covering news and sports. While living in Prince George, Dan met Tracy.
In 1985, Dan and Tracy moved to Calgary, AB, where Dan had been offered a job with Country 105 as the weekend news announcer. Dan was so excited to move to Calgary, as it was his dream to cover the 1988 Winter Olympics. Through Country 105, he was able to realize that dream. Dan and Tracy married in 1988, and their two children, Matt (1988) and Kyle (1992) were born shortly after.
Broadcasting appeared to love Dan as much as he loved it, because he went on to achieve much in his outstanding career. He worked with Country 105 for 34 years, spending most of his career as a member of the morning show’s Odd Squad, where he delighted listeners with his humor and sports knowledge. He won over a dozen awards during his career, including many Canadian Country Music Association Awards for personality of the year, an international broadcasting award from the Country Music Association for outstanding contributions to country music, and awards commemorating his charity work.
Dan volunteered for many charities over his life, with his favourite being the Alberta Children’s Hospital foundation. Dan also worked with the Calgary Stampeders as the home game PA announcer for 31 years until his passing, a position which he treasured deeply, as he would save his Stampeders ID badges and hang them on the wall like trophies. Dan also began working weekend afternoons at 660 news in 2020 as he moved towards semi-retirement, which finally gave him a chance to sleep in after a career of early mornings with Country 105. Many who worked with Dan regarded him as a mentor who supported them during career rough patches.
Throughout his career, Dan traveled extensively across North America and happily took on any opportunity for out-of-the-box reporting, having once broadcasted from the back of an elephant at the Calgary Zoo, as well as from the Tower of Terror at Disneyland. In his 40s, Dan also traveled to Scotland to trace his family roots.
Dan’s passion for golf and skiing never waivered throughout his lifetime. In the early 1990s, Dan scored a hole-in-one at Redwood Meadows Golf Club and proudly told anyone who would listen. In 2011, he came close to another hole-in-one, and proudly shared how he was 4 feet short of achieving the impossible. Dan spent many years as a part of Country 105’s ski team and loved traveling to the mountains to hit the powder. Dan also spent many years as a member of Calgary pool associations, where he participated in many tournaments and meet-ups.
Dan will be remembered for his goofy humour, always being “the oddest one on the Odd Squad,” and his gentle compassion. His loved ones fondly remember Dan’s afternoon naps while “watching” golf, the many “pull my finger” jokes, his soft but firm bear hugs, and his deeply sensitive and sentimental side. From the day he arrived, Dan was always proud of being a Calgarian, and he would be honoured knowing that this city is his final resting place.
Dan is survived by his two sons and one daughter-in-law, Kyle Hunter Carson of Calgary, AB; Matthew Keith Carson (Bianca Carson) of Edmonton, AB; and grandchildren, Ethan, Madeleine, and Harrison, of Edmonton.
Dan is also survived by his stepmother, Nancy Carson of Cranbrook, BC; brother, Richard (Rick) Carson, his wife, Radhika and daughter, Isabelle from Lake Country, Okanagan; sister, Laura-Leigh Evans, her son, Josiah Evans of Victoria and daughter, Micaela Evans of Vancouver, as well as numerous cousins and friends.
Funeral Services will be held at McInnis & Holloway (12281 40th Street SE, Calgary, AB) on Saturday July 22, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to join Dan’s service, streamed live (see below) on the day of the service. For those who are unable to view live, a recording of the service will be posted. Condolences, memories, and photos can also be shared and viewed here.
In living memory of Dan Carson, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Deerfoot South, 12281 – 40th Street SE, Calgary, AB T2Z 4E6, Telephone: 403-203-0525.
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