A decades-old tattoo mystery involving CTV’s Bruce Frisko has been solved, thanks to journalist Katie Kelly. The story dates back nearly 20 years to a time when social media was still in its infancy. In 2007, Greg Yorke, then a 21-year-old man from New Glasgow, N.S., made headlines by getting a tattoo of Frisko’s face on his arm — a decision that would capture the imagination of Maritime residents and beyond.
Yorke’s tattoo, which he dubbed the “Halifamous” ink, became a symbol of an internet-era viral moment. “Every time I post a video of Bruce or mention his name, someone inevitably asks, ‘Whatever happened to the guy who got the Bruce Frisko tattoo?’” Yorke explained. “It’s something that hasn’t been forgotten.”
Today, Yorke leads a different life: he has a successful career, a loving partner, and a young son. But in 2007, he was a young man at Halifax’s Peddler’s Pub, a now-closed bar, where the tattoo took place live on air, with Frisko himself watching in the crowd. The event was part of a viral Facebook campaign Yorke launched, called “If 25,000 people join, I’ll get a tattoo of Bruce Frisko’s face.”
“Facebook was just taking off back then,” Yorke recalled. “We were some of the first people to go viral.” The campaign garnered significant attention, and Yorke, a devoted fan of Frisko, followed through on his promise, getting the iconic news anchor’s image permanently inked into his skin.
Frisko, who has been with CTV for nearly 30 years, was supportive of the stunt. “He was a good sport about it,” Yorke said. “He was a nightly institution, so I thought, why not honor him this way?”
While Yorke still considers himself a fan of Frisko, he eventually decided to cover up the tattoo for practical reasons. “It made dating difficult,” he admitted with a laugh. His new tattoo, a clock face with wings, symbolizes the phrase “time flies.”
As Frisko approaches his 30th anniversary with CTV in March, Yorke’s tattoo remains a unique chapter in the history of both social media and Maritime culture.
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