Foster, Harry (Red), 1905-1985 : Harry Edward (Red) Foster was born in Toronto, March 1, 1905, the son of D. Harry Foster and Helen Orr Foster and was educated at Ridley College, St. Catharines. He was an outstanding athlete: he played halfback with Toronto Argonauts, then Balmy Beach, and he was on the Grey Cup football championship team in 1930; he played Senior OHA hockey with the Toronto Malboros, and Senior O.A.L.A. Lacrosse with the Maitlands; he was runner-up for the World's Championship Speedboat racing in the 225 cubic-inch class in 1931; and he was the first official outboard race winner in Canada.
His interest in sports led him to be one of Canada's first sports broadcasters and telecasters. He pioneered play-by-play broadcasts of football, lacrosse, wrestling, six-day bicycle races and speedboat racing.
Mr. Foster introduced the first outdoor radio theatre at the Canadian National Exhibition, and developed the first mobile combination radio and sound studio in Canada. In 1930 he became associated with the advertising business and in 1944 was granted a franchise for a general advertising agency. In 1951, he designed and built the first building in Canada specifically planned for an advertising agency. His agency made the first all-Canadian commercial telecast for public viewing, and televised the first West to East coast-to-coast program (British Empire Games in Vancouver) and the first East to West Grey Cup Canadian football championship game.
Mr. Foster also generously donated his time, talent and substance towards peoples with cognitive disabilities, for which he established the Harry E. Foster Charitable Foundation in 1954 to channel "seed" money to various projects and programs. He also organized the first campaign in Ontario to raise funds for people with cognitive disabilities and organized such fundraising drives as the John F. Kennedy Fund, and the Telethon Fund.
In 1969, under Mr. Foster's Chairmanship, the first Canadian Special Olympics was held, which is a national program of sports training and athletic competition for people with cognitive disabilities. The objective of the Canadian Special Olympics Inc. is to stimulate year-round, community based programs, whereas the emphasis is on participation, and the opportunity to become involved is extended to all ages and ability levels. The ongoing programs led to Regional, Provincial, and later, National and international competitive events. CSO includes both team and individual sports for winter and summer.
In addition to his advertising career and the Canadian Special Olympics, Mr. Foster has been Chairman of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, President of the Ridley College Association, Chairman, Selection Committee for the Lou E. Marsh Memorial Trophy (Canada's Outstanding Athlete), Advisor for the Canadian Paraplegic Association, and Charter Member, Advisory Committee, the Charlie Conacher Cancer Research Fund. Mr. Foster has been honoured by many awards including the Medal of Service of the Order of Canada (1971), the Kennedy Family Award for his contribution to peoples of cognitive disabilities (1974), Special Achievement Award from the Government of Ontario for his contribution to fitness and amateur sport (1974) and the Royal Bank Award for his work in the field of cognitive disabilities.
"Red" Foster married Kathryn V. Foster (Taylor) in 1939. Mr. Foster died in 1985. For more biographical information see Ladies and Gentlemen...Mr. Harry "Red" Foster by Paul E. Lewis (NC Press Limited, 1994).
