David Devall

Dave Devall, CTV meteorologist and a York Memorial Alumnus started his career in 1956 with his first job in broadcasting as an audio operator. Who would have guessed that fifty-two years later I would be joining him while he recollected his years at York Memorial.
Graduating in the year 1951, Dave Devall was never a kid who enjoyed learning. He admits to being a procrastinator, and recalls his academic experience at York Memorial as being “okay.” Playing as a half back on the school’s football team, Dave Devall remembers a few other activities in which he participated, including the boy’s hockey team, Student Council and numerous clubs at school, but claims that his years could have been better if he was a bit more involved. Nevertheless, every time Dave Devall represented Memo, he felt a sense of pride wearing gold and red and being called a Mustang, a term born while Dave Devall attended York Memorial and still used today.
Despite his “okay” memories of high school, his eyes shine when he remembers Ms. Bennet, his English teacher who became an inspiration to him as the first teacher to introduce him to public speaking. A requirement of senior English class was oral composition, and while most students would rather do anything but make a speech, Dave discovered he loved to stand up and talk to people. He earned top marks in the school and went on to compete in regional and provincial competitions successfully. His trophy now proudly sits beside one of his father’s on their home mantle, and Dave’s career of “standing up and talking to people” is legendary.
Dave Devall grew up in the York Township Area, now currently known as the York South Weston Riding. His family was not rich, but they were not poor either. He had a part-time job at Loblaws and unbelievably earned the highest pay as a part time student making $1.65 at the time!

Dave Devall began his career in the Royal Canadian Air Force from York Memorial. He remembers clearly the day when a Flying Officer came and spoke to all the students on Career Day. With a total cost of $33,000 to train a pilot at the time (now approximately $1.5 million), Dave Devall joined the reserve. He became part of the 400, 411 and 2400 Squadrons in Downsview and got his Air Force papers there. Today Dave Devall still holds his pilot’s license and just recently was named Honorary Colonel with 436 Transport Squadron in Trenton, a huge honour of which he is justifiably proud. Occasionally he can be seen forecasting the weather in full air force uniform when he has been working during the day.
As I sit beside Mr. Devall and listen to his past, I see his eyes light up and twinkle as he recalls his memories in the Air Force. These, he believes, were his finest moments where he was taught morals, rules, and most important, discipline. If you have ever watched the news when Dave Devall broadcasts, then you are probably familiar with his special skill of being able to write backwards with both hands. This was another thing that the Air Force taught him. Early in his career, he was the fellow responsible for transferring information as it arrived to the duty controller, so he had the job of writing the status of the various squadrons in another room. The transfer consisted of writing all the information on the glass wall that separated the two- so the gentleman doing the writing had to do it backwards so the officers could read it.