Dave Devall
Encyclopedia
David "Dave" Devall is a retired Canadian weather reporter for the television station CFTO-TV
in Toronto
. He served in this capacity for more than 48 years beginning in 1961, and was recognized as having had the "longest career as a weather forecaster" by Guinness World Records
and the World Records Academy upon his retirement on April 3, 2009. Devall was also a recipient of the RTNDA's life time achievement award in 2009
). While studying Radio and Television Arts at Ryerson Polytechnic (now Ryerson University
), he also served in the Royal Canadian Air Force
(RCAF), where part of his training centred on meteorology. In 1956, while still a student, he worked at CFPL-TV
in London, Ontario
; he then moved to Toronto radio station CFRB, where he stayed from 1957-1958. After graduating in 1958, he worked at CHEX-TV
in Peterborough
. When CFTO launched in 1961, Devall auditioned with 2,000 other hopefuls; he was one of six people hired as a broadcaster, and he started at the station on January 7 of the same year.
Devall's voice was heard across Canada as Jim Perry
's announcer on many of his game shows, including Definition
, Headline Hunters
and Eye Bet
, as well as in Ford television commercials on the popular Hockey Night in Canada
program.
In 1975, Devall was offered a hosting position with ABC's
Good Morning America
; he turned down the offer and remained with CFTO-TV.
Despite various new weathercasters, Devall remained the chief weather presenter at CFTO until his retirement, and also appeared daily on co-owned CTV Newsnet to present the national weather forecast. His funny antics have made him popular with Toronto viewers. During his early years at the station, he presented the weather forecast from behind a clear acrylic glass
weather map, which necessitated writing backwards with a slightly pink eye shadow type marker. After electronically generated weather maps were introduced, he continued the tradition with a single daily weather word.
Devall was made an honorary colonel of the Canadian Forces
Squadron 436 at CFB Trenton
in February 2007.
As part of his send-off, CFTO and the City of Toronto announced that the roadway leading to CTV's Toronto studios
, Channel Nine Court, had been temporarily renamed "Dave Devall Way" in his honour.
Following retirement, Devall has made appearances in television commercials for local businesses, including Loblaws
.
CFTO-TV
CFTO-DT, broadcast on channel 9 and cable 8, is a television station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, owned by Bell Media. Currently branded as CTV Toronto, it is the flagship station of the CTV Television Network, and was one of the charter members of the network when it was launched in 1961. It...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. He served in this capacity for more than 48 years beginning in 1961, and was recognized as having had the "longest career as a weather forecaster" by Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
and the World Records Academy upon his retirement on April 3, 2009. Devall was also a recipient of the RTNDA's life time achievement award in 2009
Early life and career
Devall was born, raised, and educated in Toronto (graduate of York Memorial Collegiate in the old City of YorkYork, Ontario
York is a dissolved municipality in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it is located northwest of Old Toronto, southwest of North York and east of Etobicoke, where it is bounded by the Humber River. Formerly a separate city, it was one of six municipalities that amalgamated in 1998 to form...
). While studying Radio and Television Arts at Ryerson Polytechnic (now Ryerson University
Ryerson University
Ryerson University is a public research university located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its urban campus is adjacent to Yonge-Dundas Square located at the busiest intersection in Downtown Toronto. The majority of its buildings are in the blocks northeast of the square in Toronto's Garden...
), he also served in the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
(RCAF), where part of his training centred on meteorology. In 1956, while still a student, he worked at CFPL-TV
CFPL-TV
CFPL-DT is a television station based in London, Ontario, Canada, owned by Bell Media. Part of the CTV Two television system, the station serves London, Sarnia and much of southwestern Ontario north of London, including Wingham since its former sister station, CKNX-TV which ceased operations and...
in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
; he then moved to Toronto radio station CFRB, where he stayed from 1957-1958. After graduating in 1958, he worked at CHEX-TV
CHEX-TV
CHEX-TV is a television station in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, and an affiliate of the CBC Television network. It began broadcasting on March 26, 1955, with an NHL ice hockey game. The station broadcasts over-the-air on channel 12.- History :...
in Peterborough
Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in southern Ontario, Canada, 125 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The population of the City of Peterborough was 74,898 as of the 2006 census, while the census metropolitan area has a population of 121,428 as of a 2009 estimate. It presently ranks...
. When CFTO launched in 1961, Devall auditioned with 2,000 other hopefuls; he was one of six people hired as a broadcaster, and he started at the station on January 7 of the same year.
Devall's voice was heard across Canada as Jim Perry
Jim Perry (television)
Jim Perry is a former Canadian-American television game show host, singer, announcer, and performer in the 1970s and 1980s...
's announcer on many of his game shows, including Definition
Definition (TV series)
Definition was a Canadian television game show, which aired on CTV from 1974 to 1989, and filmed at its flagship studio of CFTO-TV in the former Scarborough, Ontario . For most of its run, it was hosted by Jim Perry....
, Headline Hunters
Headline Hunters
Headline Hunters was a Canadian game show that appeared on CTV from 1972 to 1983. It was originally created by Nick Nicholson and E. Roger Muir...
and Eye Bet
Eye Bet
Eye Bet was a Canadian television game show hosted by Jim Perry, which debuted on CTV in 1971. His announcer, as with most Jim Perry game shows in Canada, was smooth voiced CFTO weatherman Dave Devall...
, as well as in Ford television commercials on the popular Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada is the branding used for CBC Sports' presentations of the National Hockey League...
program.
In 1975, Devall was offered a hosting position with ABC's
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
; he turned down the offer and remained with CFTO-TV.
Despite various new weathercasters, Devall remained the chief weather presenter at CFTO until his retirement, and also appeared daily on co-owned CTV Newsnet to present the national weather forecast. His funny antics have made him popular with Toronto viewers. During his early years at the station, he presented the weather forecast from behind a clear acrylic glass
Acrylic glass
Poly is a transparent thermoplastic, often used as a light or shatter-resistant alternative to glass. It is sometimes called acrylic glass. Chemically, it is the synthetic polymer of methyl methacrylate...
weather map, which necessitated writing backwards with a slightly pink eye shadow type marker. After electronically generated weather maps were introduced, he continued the tradition with a single daily weather word.
Devall was made an honorary colonel of the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
Squadron 436 at CFB Trenton
CFB Trenton
Canadian Forces Base Trenton , is a Canadian Forces base located northeast of Trenton, Ontario. It is operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force and is the hub for air transport operations in Canada and abroad...
in February 2007.
Retirement
Devall retired on April 3, 2009. Two days earlier, it had been announced that Devall had set the newly created Guinness World Record for the "longest career as a weather forecaster" at 48 years, 2 months, and 27 days.As part of his send-off, CFTO and the City of Toronto announced that the roadway leading to CTV's Toronto studios
9 Channel Nine Court
9 Channel Nine Court is the civic address of an office and studio complex of Bell Media in the Agincourt neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, alternatively known as the CTV Toronto Studios, CFTO-TV Studios or Bell Media Agincourt...
, Channel Nine Court, had been temporarily renamed "Dave Devall Way" in his honour.
Following retirement, Devall has made appearances in television commercials for local businesses, including Loblaws
Loblaws
Loblaws is a supermarket chain with over 70 stores in Canada, headquartered in Brampton, with stores across Ontario and Quebec. Loblaws is a division of Loblaw Companies Limited, Canada's largest food distributor...
.