FERGUS – A Fergus man who had a big impact on Newfoundland culture has died.
JACK KELLUM
Jack Kellum passed away on Dec. 4. He was 77.
Kellum was a producer at CBC for 45 years and produced shows such as This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Codco and The Wonderful Grand Band.
Over his tenure with CBC Television, Kellum showcased musicians, comedians and actors from Newfoundland and Labrador and supported a generation of entertainers.
“I just find it so amazing that this man who grew up in rural Ontario … became such a passionate defender of Newfoundland culture,” comedian Rick Mercer said in an interview with CBC.
Kellum moved his family to Newfound-land in the 1970s and he was committed to bringing folk musicians Ryan’s Fancy to a national audience. He did the same for The Wonderful Grand Band.
During his career, Kellum moved to Halifax, where he grew the East Coast Music Awards into a national program and developed the Halifax Comedy Festival as a television production. Codco and then 22 Minutes were produced at studios in Halifax.
Kellum was called “humble,” “caring,” and “dedicated” by his colleagues at CBC and never had his eye on the spotlight for himself.
“Jack’s whole career was letting other people shine, and giving them the tools to do it and taking a step back and just making sure it was going to happen for them,” Mark Critch, of 22 Minutes fame, told the CBC.
Kellum returned to Fergus when he retired.
He leaves behind his wife Maj, children Penny (John Dibben) and Zach (Johanna Reynolds), and his grandchildren Henry, Gray, Lily and Jules.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to the Trillium Gift of Life Network or Groves Memorial Community Hospital.
