Willard Yuill is a name that resonates across Canada, a true testament to entrepreneurial spirit. His journey to the top wasn’t without its hurdles, but he navigated them with ease, proving that patience and hard work are the bedrock of achieving any goal. How did he do it? Let’s dive deeper into his story on edmonton1.one.
A Legacy of Enterprise
Born in Medicine Hat, Willard Yuill came from a family deeply rooted in construction. His grandfather, a contractor for the Canadian Pacific Railway in the 1880s, quickly spotted the potential in the Medicine Hat area. With an abundance of clay and affordable natural gas for firing kilns, he founded Alberta Clay Products, one of several potteries that became a cornerstone industry in the city. This was just one of many ventures Willard’s grandfather was involved in. Willard’s father, Harlan Yuill, continued the family’s entrepreneurial streak, expanding the business to include CHAT TV AM radio in 1946, CHAT TV television in 1957, and three movie theatres. In the early 1960s, Famous Players Theatre Company approached Harlan with a partnership offer in cable television. Willard himself attended St. Andrew’s College before heading to the University of British Columbia. After graduating, he joined the family’s television business. At just 25, Yuill was appointed manager of Cablevision Medicine Hat Ltd., tasked with attracting subscribers. His efforts soon paid off, and the business flourished. When Canadian ownership laws compelled Famous Players to sell their stake, Monarch Broadcasting acquired a controlling interest. Over the years, Monarch Broadcasting expanded its reach to cable systems across Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia, while its broadcast division grew to include 16 stations in mid-sized markets. In every market, Monarch Broadcasting aimed to create local programming and establish a leading presence within the community. This success was largely thanks to Willard’s brilliant business strategy.
Driving Positive Change
In 1972, Willard acquired full ownership of Monarch Broadcasting. Throughout his extensive career in broadcasting and cable systems, the only constant has been frequent change. In 2001, he sold Monarch Broadcasting’s assets to the Jim Pattison Group, and four years later, the majority of the cable systems to Shaw Communications. Today, Monarch Communications operates a fibre optic cable company, managing over 1,000 kilometres of fibre network throughout Alberta. His vast experience in broadcasting also led Willard into sports franchise ownership. In 1977, he and his friends acquired a franchise in the Pioneer Professional Baseball League, making Medicine Hat home to the Oakland A’s farm team. In 1978, the Medicine Hat A’s became the Medicine Hat Blue Jays. This connection led to one of Medicine Hat’s greatest sports days in 1994. The two-time World Champion Toronto Blue Jays visited the city for an exhibition game. On June 6, 1994, 10,000 fans from Western Canada and the United States watched the historic event. It was the largest sports gathering in Medicine Hat’s history, and no less than nine players from the World Champion team had begun their professional careers in Medicine Hat. Willard’s private company, Consolidated Sports Holdings Ltd., became the owner and operator of seven minor league baseball teams across Canada and the U.S. It was also the only group to create a complete minor league player development system in organized baseball. The company also managed a basketball franchise in Las Vegas as part of the World Basketball League. Currently, it owns the Everett Silvertips and other hockey franchises in the American and Western Hockey Leagues. Yuill has always been drawn to merit-based competition, the purity of rivalry, and the camaraderie forged within a team. He currently boasts four baseball championship rings, and his team even won the championship trophy in the wild cow milking contest at the Brooks Rodeo in 1971!
A Commitment to Giving Back
As Chairman and CEO of The Monarch Corporation, Willard upholds his family’s tradition of active engagement on many fronts. He’s always on the lookout for new opportunities and ready for any challenge. With his numerous successful ventures, Willard finds immense joy in sharing his good fortune with the community through the Yuill Family Foundation, established in 2007. One of his most significant philanthropic projects was the foundation’s $2 million donation to establish the Margery Yuill Cancer Centre at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital. This was a heartfelt tribute to his mother, a nurse at the hospital who was actively involved with the Red Cross and helped found the YWCA in Medicine Hat. Tragically, his mother passed away from pancreatic cancer in 1965. Yuill believes she would have wholeheartedly approved of the centre, both for its medical advancements and for providing a place where people can receive comprehensive treatment without financial burden. Another example of Willard’s philanthropy is the contribution he and his wife made to Medalta, Medicine Hat’s industrial heritage museum. The Yuill Family Gallery, featuring artists’ work alongside traveling exhibits, perfectly reflects the family’s historical roots and broad perspective. Other generous donations include support for the YMCA in Medicine Hat, the Mazankowski Heart Institute in Edmonton, and his alma mater, St. Andrew’s College in Aurora, Ontario. For decades, Yuill has shared his expertise and knowledge across various boards and organizations, from hockey clubs to the Canadian Association of Broadcasters. He has been a long-standing member of the local YMCA, the Medicine Hat Cypress Club, the World Presidents’ Organization, and the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede. Currently, Willard serves on the boards of Shaw Communications and the Western Investment Company of Canada. He is also a Governor of the Western Hockey League and a member of the Foundation of St. Andrew’s College.
Remarkable Achievements
For his accomplishments, Yuill was honoured with the Milner Fenerty Pinnacle Award in 1995 and an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Lethbridge in 2006. In 2003, Willard was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, followed by the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013. Willard has witnessed a lifetime of change. He distinctly remembers a time when driving from Medicine Hat to Calgary on a paved road meant taking a 100-mile detour southwest to Lethbridge before turning north. He’s genuinely amazed by what can now be achieved in broadcasting with a mere click of a mouse, and he fondly recalls, in his interviews, the people who were once essential to creating that same magic. But no matter what changes occur, he firmly believes in timeless values: supporting your hometown, showing kindness to others, and doing good deeds.