Chartwell Foundation grants wish to former CHCH broadcaster Alex Reynolds

Both the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Saskatchewan Roughriders need a win tonight for their best chance of making the playoffs.

Hamilton sits in third in the east division and with just four games left this season every single play could be a season-changing moment. Hamilton is coming off a bye week and should be well-rested while Saskatchewan is coming off a 31-13 loss to Winnipeg.

Thanks to The Chartwell Foundation former CHCH entertainment reporter Alex Reynolds and his wife Eileen will be at Tim Hortons Field for their first game in years.

From movie reviews to interviewing international stars of stage and screen, Alex Reynolds did it all in his decades-long broadcast career.

“We went to New York, we went to Hollywood, I remember a memorable time going to Paris for a week,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds made friends with singer Harry Belafonte, “we would see each other a lot and we just automatically clicked.”

Reynolds was the only Hamilton reporter selected to interview Luciano Pavarotti when the tenor was in town.

Reynolds also developed a real passion for Tiger-Cat football, thanks to his wife Eileen, who introduced him to the sport and with whom he went to thousands of games over the years.

“Seen some great games over the years and sat in terrible weather, but it didn’t matter, as long as the cats could play and win,” Reynolds said.

The couple met while Reynolds was judging a Hamilton beauty pageant in the late fifties, she was the reigning Miss Canada at the time, “I was just struck by her.”

Eileen ended up working at the radio station in Brantford where he worked, and the rest is history, as they say, married for 61 years, sharing a love wrapped in a yellow-and-black bow that eventually included their son, Will.

Failing health made it more difficult to keep their season tickets, the pair haven’t been to a game since 2014 and didn’t think they would again, until now.

Chartwell RetirementResidences’ has just launched a charitable organization called The Chartwell Foundation, which is granting wishes to seniors who apply.

Any senior is eligible, not just those living in a Chartwell Retirement Residence. Alex and Eileen are some of the first winners.

Their son Will says the foundation organized everything, “the transportation, the nursing staff they need to make sure that they’re safe.”

Will, his wife, and their daughter will accompany them, making tonight a very special family outing.

Alex says he is elated and grateful and says despite the poor-performing cats this season, he’s predicting a tiger-town win, “I just have a feeling the cats will come out with this one because they’re embarrassed more than anything.”

It’s a wish come true for a Hamilton icon and his beautiful wife.

“Thank you for this, I appreciate the interview. Alex Reynolds CHCH News.”