About Pat Marsden

Pat Marsden

Pat Marsden, the Ottawa boy known for his outspoken style, his knowledge of sports and his strong opinions had a softer side that only his close friends and family knew. While he was always documented as an original, in the Canadian sports broadcasting world, he was just a guy, who loved his fellowman and tried to lend a helping hand whenever he could.

His affiliation with CTV, not only involved the world of CFL broadcasts throughout his lengthy career, but also his unflappable determination to make every Telethon he hosted the success it was. He was often compared to a “Carnie man”, he had the ability during those marathon telethons to capture the heart and soul of every Canadian who stopped by for a few minutes, just long enough to engage them and make them want to contribute to the worthy cause he was supporting. He had a unique gift, he always evoked a strong emotion, whether you hated his opinion about your favourite sports team, or you loved him because you thought he was a ‘homer’, he made you feel something, think something.

He wants you to think and feel something now.

Few people knew much about Pat’s childhood, one that he always expressed as being 'great!' He and his older brother Bill were raised by a working, single mother, no mean feat back in those days. Pat’s determination as a young man to become a success emanated from the strength of his Irish Catholic roots, and his incredible mother, Mary Kathleen McGovern Marsden, she taught her boys, by example, how to live their lives.

When Pat and his brother were young children their house burned down and everything was lost, including the few Christmas gifts their mother could barely afford. The impact of this traumatic event was enormous, somehow they found the strength to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives and carry on.

In those treasured Christmas gifts that year, were a pair of brand new hockey skates, lost forever.

Pat’s love of sports and playing team sports could not be crushed, he borrowed skates, that never really fit, he didn’t have hockey gloves he played on a team wearing just regular winter gloves and because his family could not afford much, he used old catalogues as shin pads….he just wanted to” Get in the Game…..” His team, the “Clegg Street Beavers”, won that year.

As a result of his own childhood experience, Pat Marsden was always ready to help a child in need.. A news story, years ago about a young boy in Toronto who had lost all his new hockey equipment in a fire, immediately brought back every memory associated with his own experience. Pat set out to replace every piece of equipment and more for this young man. He did this anonymously and without thanks. Pat continued on this path for the rest of his life….he never wanted any recognition.

Anyone who knew the late Pat Marsden, knew him as a man who loved life, an Ottawa boy, who never forgot for a moment his humble beginnings and whose only wish was to help children play the sports they love, in his wonderful Canada.

The ‘Pat Marsden Foundation’, has been developed to carry on that legacy….so kids can “Get in the Game.”