The day David Onley got his first professional job at a Toronto radio station to host a feature called
a "Step Ahead" in the early 1980s, he told a colleague, "I can't believe this has happened to me." You can only wonder what
that young man would have thought about the person he's now become - the next Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.
The posting, which has been in the works for over a year, was confirmed on Tuesday, surprising his friends
and fans at Citytv, where he's been a familiar face since 1984. He started as a Weather Specialist,
graduated to Education Specialist, moved up to Science and Technology Specialist and finally became a CP24
anchor and host of the weekly "Home Page." In fact, he was on his way home from last Wednesday's show when his cell phone rang. "I just had reached the
top of the Don Valley Parkway ... and there was no place to pull over," he remembers. "And when the Prime Minister of your country calls, all you can try to do is stay in the same lane, avoid any fender-benders and have a meaningful
conversation, which I did."
Onley first came to prominence several years before that with the publication of his novel "Shuttle", which
eerily presaged the space disasters NASA would endure years later. He contracted polio as a child, but never let that disability stand in his way and championed the rights of the disabled and
participated in a host of charities - including the Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons. He became known as much for his trademark scooter as his mile wide smile. And his work paid off - in 2005,
he was named the chair of the Queen's Park Accessability Standards Council.
And now he moves up yet again, taking over from outgoing Lt.-Gov. James Bartleman. How did this startling turn of events happen? It turns out much of it was also home grown. "Last summer
... I was approached by [CP24 anchor] Ann Rohmer, our colleague, who was representing a number of people who felt that I should allow my name to stand as the
next Lieutenant-Governor," he explains. "I thought about it very hard. Obviously it's not something you suddenly decide to
apply for one morning. Something I never, ever considered, but as Ann and other people came to me and expressed why they thought I
would make a good Lieutenant-Governor, I started to think about it very seriously. Spent the whole summer thinking about it
last year and last fall decided, okay, I would let my name stand."
It not only stood, it stood above the rest and with the backing of some prominent friends, he was chosen for
the prestigious post, joining illustrious predecessors like Hilary Weston, Henry Jackman, Lincoln Alexander. Some see the
position as purely ceremonial, but David has an agenda he intends to pursue that's close to his heart.
"I really want to be the compelling and driving force to help make this province a more accessible place,"
he vows. "I believe there's an enormous amount of generosity and goodwill out there as ... aging boomers dealing with
elderly parents suddenly realize if you make something accessible for someone with a disability, you made it more accessible
and safer for everybody."
David - or as we'll now be calling him - The Honourable Mr. Onley - will be assuming his new duties in August,
just in time for the most appropriate day possible - the Simcoe Day long weekend. He already has it all planned. "I
hope I get to fire the cannon," he laughs.
We suspect he'll be lighting many fires over the next four years and his colleagues and friends at Citytv
expect all of them will burn brightly.
Onley becomes the 28th Lt.-Gov. of Ontario. To see those who've come before him, click here.
David Onley's CityNews.ca Personality Page
What you never knew about David Onley
What does a Lt.-Governor do?
