Arctic Radio president Tom O’Brien joined the ranks of local luminaries such as Nick DiVirgilio and Red Sangster after receiving the Order of Thompson Oct. 14.
The award, which recognizes individuals who’ve made long lasting contributions to the community, was presented during the Thompson Community Foundation’s annual fall gala at Riverlodge Place by a collection of O’Brien’s close friends and co-workers.
One of these presenters was CHTM general sales manager Dave Moore, who worked with O’Brien since before he and his wife Sue officially purchased the local radio station in 2000.
Moore went over O’Brien’s history in the Hub of the North, like how he first arrived in 1993 to run the local radio station and integrated himself into the community through his innumerable hours of charity and volunteer work.
Outside of providing community groups with a venue for free advertising through the radio, O’Brien’s also been a prominent figure in organizations such as the Rotary Club, the Chamber of Commerce and the United Way. He’s also helped organize initiatives such as Operation Red Nose and the Million Dollar Hole-in-One.
O’Brien is also an active member of the St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Church, where he’s been known to fill in as a “Father Tom” when the priests are away.
Moore even likened O’Brien to a real life version of Forrest Gump; the “unsung hero” who is “always in the background.”
“He’s put millions of dollars back into the community. But he does something more. He gives his time,” said Moore. “There’s a lot of people in this room I’ve seen come into his office, come in to lend his ear, to lend a hand on a community project, or something like that.”
As a close friend to O’Brien, Rick Oberdorfer expanded on the Arctic Radio president’s dedication to the local community and how he managed to spearhead major projects like the suspension bridge at Pisew Falls.
“I still remember making that mistake one night at a Rotary function when I mentioned that I think we could make a ‘monster bingo’ work. And your eyes lit up,” said Oberdorfer. “It’s because of the funds that we raised in that one ‘monster bingo’ that that suspension bridge is standing to this day.”
When it came time for O’Brien to speak, the man of the hour admitted that all this attention and praise makes him slightly uncomfortable.
O’Brien said he is just following the example set forth by his parents, his friends, and countless members of the community who put in hours of volunteer work without any expectation of a reward.
“I see people cleaning up around their places of work and their places at home or doing work around their church … they’re not getting paid to do that,” he said. “I see people deciding to meet to continue on with the Terry Fox Run … these people and countless others help carry me through those moments when I’m frustrated and discouraged.”
