George Garrett: Intrepid Reporter

“George Garrett is one of the most remarkable reporters of news that I have ever known. He has always had the ability to smell a good story and to report on it honestly and accurately.”

—Jim Pattison, Canadian business magnate

Starting from humble beginnings as a farm boy in Saskatchewan, George Garrett rose through the ranks of journalism and came to be known as the reporter who, as radio personality Rafe Mair recalled, “seemed to know details almost as soon as the police did” on such infamous stories as the Clifford Olson murders. He was willing to take risks to get to the real story, which resulted in his being assaulted in the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles among many other scrapes. In this memoir, Garrett shares the behind-the-scenes tales of his harrowing, humorous and occasionally humiliating investigative tactics, from posing as an accident victim to uncover the questionable practices of an insurance claim lawyer, to acting as a tow truck driver to expose a forgery scheme, and baring it all for the sake of an interview with a local nudist colony.

Garrett also delves into the personal details of his life, sharing the hardships and resilience that marks him as an empathetic storyteller. He reveals the heartbreaking loss of his son in a canoeing accident, and his wife Joan’s devastating diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease which inspired him to dedicate his time to supporting the Alzheimer Society.

Through it all, George Garrett never lost the insatiable curiosity that, according to Rafe Mair, made him the “standard by which good reporting is judged.”

“A must-read for anyone interested in BC history. [George is] one of the most significant figures in the history of BC journalism.”

“Some reporters are excellent to deal with and over the years may form professional and personal relationships with officers. I know a well-respected reporter by the name of George Garrett who worked in the Vancouver area for many years. He was so well liked and respected by police officers that he is still invited to many police functions in spite of the fact he is retired. George Garrett always did his job and reported the good with the bad. If a police officer or department made a mistake, he reported it fairly and accurately without personal bias. I think that is what garnered him the respect. He was a professional and reported all of the facts and all of the story.”

"...a great reporter and a legend in our trade. He knew everyone, was on top of everything and was invariably first." 

“During my tenure with Vancouver’s Major Crime Squad, the floor was strictly off-limits to civilian personnel. The only exception to the rule was a crime reporter named George Garrett who was given full access to the Homicide Unit. (Personally … I think he had his own key.) Garrett reported with insight, colour and accuracy and could be trusted with information that was ‘off the record.’ He acted as an invaluable liaison between the police and the media.”

“George Garrett is the best investigative reporter Vancouver had ever known.”

“George Garrett: Intrepid Reporter is important reading for anyone interested in Vancouver politics and journalism in the last fifty years of the previous century… There is so much to learn from this autobiography. Read it.” ~The Ormsby Review, Mike Sasges, March 4, 2019

“It’s a must read for history buffs, journalism fans or anyone who just loves a good story.” ~ Ian Jacques, Delta Optimist

“I like to think of Garrett as a friendly teacher—a man who taught his younger colleagues how to behave on the beat and someone who educated the public about the legal and political systems in place at the time.

Garrett is also a damn good writer. Decades in radio clearly taught him how to get to the point quickly while creating, as he likes to say, "theatre of the mind."

It's as important in books as it is in radio—something Garrett clearly understands.” ~ Charlie Smith, Georgia Straight