Fergie Olver Biography

Fergie Olver is a Canadian former game show host and a well-known sportscaster. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.

Quick Facts

Nationality: Canadian

Famous: TV Anchors Canadian Men

Born in: Moose Jaw, Canada

Famous as: Game Show Host

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Catherine Swing, Susan Wheeler

children: Alison Olver, Carrie Olver, Emily Olver

Continue Reading Below

Recommended For You

Identify These Bollywood Actresses

Fergie Olver is a Canadian former game show host and a well-known sportscaster. In the 1980s, this infamous host hosted a kids’ game show, 'Just Like Mom', on Canadian television. The aim of the program was to find out which child and mother knew each other the best through question and answer sessions. Fergie co-hosted the show with his wife, Catherine Swing, and was introduced by one of their children. Their children, Emily and Alison, were also involved in the show. Although it was legal in Canada, critics and television viewers criticised Fergie for coercing underage girls into giving him kisses. And if these young girls refused his “creepy advances”, he went ahead and kissed them anyway. Some critics termed him as a “borderline pedophile” while others called him “a pervert”. There were even videos circulating over the internet that showed Fergie going a little overboard while playing with the children and kissing little girls even when they were reluctant. He was also a sportsman and played baseball. Later he became a sports commentator and gained popularity in this capacity. During the 1980s and the early 1990s, Fergie Olver was the dugout reporter for the ‘Toronto Blue Jays’ and covered their games on CTV, TSN, and BBS.

Image Credit

Fergie Olver

Image Credit

Career

Initially, Fergie Olver pursued a sports career as an outfielder in baseball minor leagues, and then with Saskatoon/Medicine Hat in the semi-pro Western Baseball League. He became one of the well-known faces of Major League Baseball in Canada, and also played in the old Western Major Baseball League.
In the 1960s, he moved from sports to broadcasting, and began a new career in the Moose Jaw/Regina area. In 1969, he joined CFCF-TV in Montreal, and later shifted to CFTO-TV in Toronto.
In 1981, he joined Toronto Blue Jays’ baseball crew as a broadcaster and dugout reporter, and continued in this post till 1996. Having joined the Blue Jays’ in their initial years, he witnessed all their glory days that included clinching the World Series titles in 1992 and 1993. He also covered their games on CTV, TSN, and BBS channels. He appeared as a member of the press in the 1971 film ‘Face-Off’ where he covered a hockey team.
Fergie joined the Canadian television game show ‘Just Like Mom’ from its second season. The show, which ran from 1980 to 1985 on CTV, was hosted by Stephen Young in the first season. From the second season it was hosted by the husband-and-wife duo of Fergie and Catherine Swing, who was also the show's creator. His stint on the show was considered to be quite controversial as his behavior with the young female participants was deemed inappropriate by many television critics.

Top

Continue Reading Below

Personal

Not much is known about Fergie Olver’s early life and family background. A native of Moose Jaw, he married Susan Wheeler in 1986. Prior to this, he was married to Catherine Swing. He has three children.
His daughter Carrie Olver works on shopping channels and The Weather Network. In 2004, Fergie was nominated for the Ford C. Frick Award, which is presented annually to a broadcaster who has made significant contributions to baseball.

Top