ESTEVAN - Raised near Piapot, Sask., Lyle McGillivray has always loved photography.
Around the age of eight, he already had a camera in his hand and was taking plenty of wildlife photos.
“Back in those days the film needed to be developed, and when I received my photos back, most of them were not any good,” said Lyle.
By the time he was 16 and started driving, he would cruise the back roads taking photos of all the wildlife he could.
When he finished school, he received work as a grader operator for the RM of Piapot.
He also had another passion and that was the radio station.
His good friend Pat O’Connor worked for a radio station in Medicine Hat, and since Lyle had a great voice, he worked at the station on weekends.
It did not take long before he had a full-time job on the radio, but he continued with his photography.
During this time, he met his wife Betty as she moved to Piapot to teach at a two-room schoolhouse where she taught kindergarten through Grade 4.
“It was difficult having so many different grades at one time, as each needed something different,” said Betty.
She taught like this for three years, but the town was very welcoming of her and she enjoyed living there.
In 1989, Lyle moved to Estevan and this is were he is known for his voice, as he works for Country 106.1 FM as a broadcaster.
Betty was soon to follow. She became employed in Beinfait Weldon School and taught there for 18 years, and then worked at Westview School in Estevan for 12 years.
They also have two sons, Matthew, who is a chartered accountant, and Curtis, who also has a love for film and photos and does videos through Prairie View Productions.
Betty is retired, but during her years as a teacher she wrote many children’s books. None were published.
She finally authored a book that she had published called Fun Is Where You Make It. This holds funny stories as her life as a teacher and at home.
Each chapter is a story in its own and in between the chapters are funny things kids have said to her.
The title came from a pin that she received from a friend, and it seemed to fit her book perfectly.
Betty loves to promote her book, but also her husband’s artwork that is displayed at the Estevan Market Mall.
They love to go out on family outings to capture the beauty of nature. At times Betty will stay at the cabin if they plan a trip up north while the guys go out on the trails.
Lyle and Curtis love to capture all wildlife on film, but Lyle has a passion for moose.
One time outside of Arcola he spotted a moose cow and her calf. They were 200 yards away, but being patient, Lyle sat and waited for over an hour, hoping the moose would come closer.
They finally walked through the slew and came within 30 yards of Lyle, and he was able to capture the pair drinking water and having shots of the water dripping off their lips.
“It was an amazing moment,” said Lyle, “one I will not forget.”
They have travelled to many parks, including Duck Mountain, Meadow Lake, and Narrow Hills, and they already have plans for this year.
While Betty continues to do book readings at local libraries, and McGillvray keeps being the voice on the radio, together as a family they make memories through Betty’s book and Lyle’s photography.
