The Celebrity

Ace Burpee

Kevin Legge

1. Ace Burpee
2. Tim “Co-op” Hoover
3. Dancin’ Gabe

Chances are you’ve heard Ace Burpee’s unique voice at some point, either while he is hosting his popular morning show on 103.1 Virgin Radio, speaking at a charity event or doing his live on location work all over Winnipeg.

Burpee’s also the co-owner of Market Burger, and writes a column for Metro called “What’s Good?”

Ace seems to be everywhere, and he kind of is, but that’s because his highest priority is giving back to the community.

“I always enjoyed Winnipeg’s ‘underdog’ status growing up,” Burpee says. “I always fought for us. I know there are a lot of good people here that are trying really hard and doing a lot of good things, and I feel they deserve some credit. They need someone to fight for them sometimes, or at least someone to give them a boost. I try and do that as much as possible.”

Always light-hearted and funny, Burpee is considered by many to be Winnipeg’s coolest celebrity.

“I would say I’m nice, if that counts for anything these days,” he says jokingly. “I wouldn’t go so far as to say I’m cool.”

In 2013, Burpee also stepped up to co-organize the 33rd annual Terry Fox Run, one of the biggest charity events of the year. Raised in Cooks Creek, a graduate of Springfield Collegiate Institute in Oakbank and the University of Manitoba, Burpee is Manitoban through and through, but his heart is in the province’s capital.

“I know what the rest of the country thinks of us, but that shouldn’t matter. Hating stuff is the easy way out,” Burpee says. “I want to see people succeed, and there are so many people that have come here from so many different places.

“I like it when they find something here that makes them happy.”

Part of the series: The Uniter 30

Published in Volume 68, Number 14 of The Uniter (December 4, 2013)

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