On the very last edition of the Corus Sunday talk show "A Word In Edgewise," AM 640's Kelly Cutrara revealed an amazing story of listener loyalty. She recalled how a frequent caller named "Terry" was a regular on her show and one day she received notice from one his friends that the listener, who was quite ill, had decided to end his life using Medical Assistance in Dying. He wanted her to know the reason he wasn't calling any longer wasn't because of something she said. 

She was sad to hear it and was sorry she wouldn't be hearing from him anymore. But as it turned out, Terry did have one last message for her. Not long after being informed of his passing, she was on her way to work when her producer, Chris Chreston, called her on her cell phone. He'd come in early to discover two envelopes in the office - one addressed to her, the other to him. He told her it was from the now deceased "Terry."

When she asked what was in it, he told her the late listener had left them both an undisclosed amount of money, to thank them for the show and the entertainment they provided him in the final years of his life. She didn't say how much it was, but the only stipulations he made was that they go out for a final drink on him and make a small donation to the Daily Bread Food Bank. They could keep the rest.

She said she was blown away by the gesture, which was totally unexpected. But she noted sometimes people form bonds with the voices on the radio that the hosts never realize exist on the other side of that speaker. 

I know some radio and TV people end up with unwanted stalkers - I recall hearing about a woman who never stopped showing up at City TV to try and see Gord Martineau, even leaving him cakes and other presents because she became obsessed with him. He was eventually forced to call the cops on her to try to get her to stop.

But to have a regular listener you've never even met remember you in their will is quite amazing. And it's a once-in-a-lifetime event Cutrara says she won't soon forget.