Journalist, father, friend

Winnipeg Free Press

2 days ago

The notes of a familiar Blue Rodeo or Tragically Hip song would often fill the dining room, Ted Wyman's fingers gliding on the guitar strings, a warm smile spreading across his face as he sang along with his long-term partner Kim Fedick.
For Wyman, these intimate musical moments, shared with loved ones, were the essence of a life lived richly.
'We'd finish up a great meal and then he'd just go grab his guitar and start playing something I loved,' Fedick said. 'Then we'd just sing together for hours. That's what I think about the most.'
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Wyman loved to play the guitar and sing with family and friends.
Wyman, the longtime sports editor of the Winnipeg Sun who died last November after a brief battle with cancer, was the guy who brought a smile to everyone's face whenever he entered a room.
While he didn't want to be the life of the party, Wyman brought life to every gathering he ever showed up at, offering a familiar and safe space for people to be themselves and share their stories.
For 58 years, Wyman packed a remarkable amount of living into his time, touching countless lives with his infectious spirit, boundless curiosity and a superpower for forging meaningful connections.
He was a dedicated father, a passionate journalist, an avid traveller and a talented musician.
'A lot of it was just that he loved people, he respected people and he wanted to rise up to the level of the people he admired,' Chris Wyman, Ted's son, said.
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Winnipeg Sun Sports editor Ted Wyman died in November after a brief battle with cancer.
'I don't know that he ever knew this, but he had already gotten there, as other people were looking up to him.'
Born Edward Bryce Archibald Wyman in Brandon on June 11, 1966, and raised in Winnipeg, Wyman grew up on Elm Street in River Heights, graduating from Kelvin High School.
While his younger years were filled more with discovery than popularity, this experience fostered a deep empathy that would define his later inclusive nature.
His childhood included family trips to Europe, where his mother Anna encouraged him to journal, nurturing an adventurous spirit that would stay with him.
Indeed, his path seemed set early on; at just 11 years old, inspired by local sports media legends like Jack Wells and Jack Matheson, Wyman declared his ambition to become a sports writer.
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Ted as a young boy
After graduating from RRC Polytech, Wyman began his professional journey at the Interlake Spectator, working out of a dilapidated cabin his father, Herbert, provided him with.
From there, he headed back to his birthplace to work for the Brandon Sun, then the Moose Jaw Times-Herald, gaining foundational knowledge and solidifying the passion that would drive his career.
Wyman's arrival at the Winnipeg Sun in 2003 marked a significant chapter. He rose to sports editor in just three years, becoming a respected figure in Canadian sports journalism.
Co-workers marvelled at his ability to pack so much into a day, his quick wit and his encyclopedic knowledge of sports. Colleagues recalled on numerous occasions him effortlessly rattling off stats from the WHA Jets or a full Blue Bombers' roster from decades past.
'When he had to write a story, that guy could focus like a laser,' said Wyman's brother, Jeff Wyman, noting the intense dedication he had to his craft.
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Wyman (left) and a media contingent at the old Canad Inns Stadium.
'He would absolutely just block everything out in the entire world.'
His brilliance extended beyond sports. Wyman could get every question right on Jeopardy, Fedick said, and even crafted intricate crossword puzzles for her enjoyment.
His journalism was always about more than just scores and statistics.
'He had such a passion for what he did, but it was always about the people he met along the way,' said Wyman's sister, Alison Marantz.
'Whenever he visited me in Calgary during one of his work trips, it was always, 'Oh, yeah, I met up with my buddy so-and-so.''
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From left: Siblings Jeff, Mike, Alison and Wyman. Wyman was the youngest of the four siblings.
Wyman's interview style was conversational and fair, earning him respect from athletes and colleagues alike. He was staunch in his journalistic principles, refraining from cheering at sporting events when with family and friends.
Wyman's book, Ice Gold, which offered an insider's view of Canada's double-gold-medal curling feat at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, exemplified this approach, focusing on the stories behind the triumph.
He firmly believed the inclusion of box scores in the sports section was the hallmark of a real paper and he fiercely advocated for his staff.
As his close friend Jay Bell, a former Free Press sports editor, put it, 'There was nothing disingenuous about Ted Wyman. He had a way of making you feel very comfortable… he freaking knew everybody.'
Wyman's profound impact on the sports world was recognized with his induction into the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association Media Roll of Honour, and posthumously with CurlManitoba's Honourary Life Membership and Curling Canada's Paul McLean Award.
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Ted Wyman at the 2014 launch of Ice Gold: Canada's Curling Champions at McNally Robinson.
This lasting commitment to the field is further represented by the Ted Wyman Memorial Scholarship, established in his memory for journalism students at RRC Polytech.
Beyond the newsroom, Wyman was a dedicated father to his daughter Emily and son Chris. Emily remembers his unwavering excitement and his desire for them to have as beautiful a childhood as he did.
'He was always the cool, fun dad. He would always joke that he stopped aging at 10 years old,' Emily said. 'But he also taught us to be honest and upfront with our feelings and to never assume that your love is felt as much as you are putting it out there.
'He thought if you were happy, you were the most successful and richest person alive.'
Wyman was a consistent presence in his children's lives, often meeting them for lunch breaks at school while working the night sports desk at the Sun.
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Wyman with his beloved children, daughter Emily and son Chris.
His children were a source of immense pride and he consistently showed up for them, never missing a musical or an important moment. Wyman also instilled a love of reading in Chris; they devoured the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter series together.
Music was another passion. A self-taught musician, Wyman could pick up a guitar and learn songs in an evening.
He was never shy to perform one of his favourite Tom Petty songs for an audience and frequently hosted lively jam sessions in his basement. His love for music was a joyful expression of his soul.
Wyman's adventurous spirit took him around the world, covering major events from Grey Cups to Olympic Games.
But what truly defined these travels was his unparalleled ability to connect with people; he made friends everywhere he went, possessing an almost uncanny ability for turning strangers into companions.
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Wyman in Mexico, one of his favourite places to visit.
His childhood family trips to Europe sparked a lifelong wanderlust in his children, too; Emily recently visited Antarctica, completing travels to all seven continents.
For Wyman, these shared journeys were a cornerstone of his belief in the importance of maintaining family traditions.
'His joy was contagious,' said Bronwyn Berry, a longtime friend. 'He embraced everything. Just look at Wyman and his T-shirts! He used these beer T-shirts to meet people and start up conversations. Next thing you knew, they're the best of buds.'
Berry described this as a 'childhood wonderment' that Wyman never lost, driving his desire to know every story, every best place to eat and every beach with a breathtaking sunset.
His non-judgmental nature meant 'everybody was his friend,' as Dave Martens, another close pal, attested. Berry and Martens, among many others, gravitated to Wyman because they were similar in that they wore their hearts on their sleeves.
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Wyman and his dog Titan.
Their bond was only strengthened by the deep conversations they shared. Wyman's smart sense of humour never came at anyone's expense; he simply loved bringing people together.
Summers were particularly cherished by Wyman, often spent in Gimli, making lasting memories around the campfire at Loni Beach. This was truly his happy place.
'I want people to remember Ted for how passionate he was about life and how great he was about life,' Martens said.
'Because that guy packed a lot of life into 58 years, more than most people.'
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Wyman and his long-time partner Kim Fedick.
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Wyman early into his cancer treatment.
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Wyman and Free Press sports reporter Jeff Hamilton.
Jeff HamiltonMultimedia producer
Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University's journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff.
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