Anyone who meets Doug Gibb soon realizes he is a blessing for Barrhead.
Now thousands of others are also appreciating the 92-year-old – after he came under Global Edmonton’s TV spotlight last week.
Viewers heard Gibb called “God’s chauffeur” and a “godsend” for bringing an in-town transport service for those in wheelchairs or who use walkers.
“A bit of transportation for the people who need it,” Gibb said. “Not the ones that might want it, but we’re after the ones that need it.”
Barrhead Mayor Brian Schulz hailed Gibb as an inspiration, saying Town staff had been happy to look into the feasibility of his proposal.
“When you talk to him you know right away that he is more than capable,” he said.
“When you have a desire to help people like he does, it’s pretty easy to just catch on fire and just do more encouraging with him.”
Gibb and his gratis service were featured in Global Edmonton’s 6 p.m. news program on Channel 8 last Wednesday.
Co-anchors Gord Steinke and Carole Anne Devaney introduced the item about Barrhead’s “noble neighbour” who has taken it upon himself to provide a need in the town. Devaney later referred to Gibb as a great guy.
“I love this story,” said Steinke.
It was the final segment in the hour-long program, running for two-and-a-half minutes and showing parts of Barrhead on a gloriously sunny day, including Main Street, the hospital, Keir Care Centre, the IGA sign, Klondike Place and the road outside the Town office.
Shane Jones, reporter and anchorman for Global Edmonton, and Barrhead-born cameraman Cliff Harris compiled the report after spending a morning with Gibb.
They were alerted to the story by the TV station’s assignment editor, Kory Siegers, who read an article about Gibb’s ambitious venture in the online Barrhead Leader.
“We like to do a human interest story, a good news story,” said Jones. “We don’t always want to talk about death and destruction and crime.
“Our viewers like these types of stories which are off the beaten path. This is a heart-warming story.”
Jones and Harris met Gibb outside his apartment in Klondike Place at about 10 a.m.
“We put the microphone on him and he drove us in his van,” Jones said.
However, it wasn’t the 1999 white van that he had been driving until a few days ago. Instead, viewers saw him at the wheel of a shiny blue 2005 Dodge Grand Minivan, certainly a much flashier and impressive machine.
He acquired the vehicle, he said, thanks to an “outstanding” trade-in deal with Stephani Motors.
Marcie Stephani, from Stephani Motors, said Gibb was a long-time customer at the company, going back to the 1940s.
“We were happy to help him,” he said.
It was another example of the generosity that has flowed Gibb’s way since news of his service was published.
Shortly after the story appeared, Shannon Reeve and Ben Kindt, from Du-Al Contracting and Developments, offered to pay gas expenses and any minor repairs to Gibb’s van.
Gibb told Global Edmonton that he learned to drive in the late 1930s and quickly developed a passion for it.
“I did the first driving on the farm with an old Overland and then the Model T,” he said.
Gibb showed Jones and Harris how he uses ramps to load wheelchairs into the back of his van.
He then took his passengers from Klondike Place to the Keir Care Centre, where his wife Beatrice stays.
Unfortunately, Beatrice was unavailable, so Gibb drove Jones and Harris around the town, pointing out such landmarks as the hospital.
The tour revealed a familiar landscape to Harris, who was raised in Barrhead and still has family ties to the town.
“My brother is here,” he said. “I also got married in Barrhead.”
Gibb, a lifelong Christian, told Jones that he was a little uncomfortable with the description “God’s chauffeur.”
“I’m just one of His sinners,” he laughed.
He added it was impossible to say how long he could go on driving. His current licence expires in August, 2014.
“I know not what the future holds, but I do know WHO holds the future,” he said, reciting one of his favourite sayings. “To me that’s very fitting.”
After bidding farewell to Gibb, Jones and Harris headed to the Town office for an interview with the Mayor.
Schulz told of the wonderful moment when Gibb entered the Town office and first put forward his proposal.
Town staff did some investigating – contacting insurers and the RCMP – and informed him that his current insurance and licence were good for a transport service, but not a business.
The Mayor described Gibb as a godsend, saying it was encouraging that people were stepping up and helping out in communities, something needed in small towns.
Reflecting on his day in the limelight, Gibb said it had been “very interesting.”
Such publicity, of course, was very far from his intention when he announced his service as a way of putting to good purpose the wonderful health and strength he still enjoys.
He credits God for all the many blessings bestowed on him through life, saying a light has shone even during his darkest moments.
“God never closes a door without opening another,” he says.
Like many local viewers, Gibb was glued to Global Edmonton TV on Wednesday evening. Anyone who missed the program, can see the segment on Gibb on the station’s website.
How did Gibb feel he came across?
“I had a hard time believing who it was,” he laughed. “I guess I don’t look in the mirror often enough.”
Gibb believed the story conveyed a positive message and might inspire other communities to do something similar.
“Everything is in God’s hands,” he said.
Gibb is keen to find partners for his service. He can be reached at 780-674-7374.
