Down The Road - The Commission (CRTC) had to now be convinced of the need for multilingual radio. Canada is a bilingual country and it was the feeling of the CRTC that Canadian broadcasters should serve the two founding languages, English and French. But Johnny persisted, insisting that CHIN must serve those language and cultural groups rapidly establishing themselves within his broadcast area. Again and again he urged the Commission to accept his multicultural concept and to recognize the need to speak to the immigrant newcomers in their own language. This, he felt, would encourage them to accept a participatory role in the community which would ultimately lead to full citizenship.
The special consideration granted 39 years ago by the CRTC to CHIN-AM, citing it as a unique, multicultural broadcasting station, marks the culmination of almost four decades of effort by Johnny Lombardi before his passing in March 2002, to promote the cause of multiculturalism, multilingualism, and a better understanding between Canadians of every possible origin and extraction.
Voice of Ethnic Broadcasting - CHIN has been the voice of ethnic broadcasting since 1966, and its leadership in pioneering new and exciting ideas for ethnic broadcasting are looked upon with great respect and given much recognition. In March of l985, the CRTC held hearings in Vancouver, in Hull, Quebec, and in Toronto with regard to the establishment of an ethnic broadcasting policy for Canada. Because CHIN is a broadcasting mini United Nations, the recognition, the acceptance and the respect for what it is all about finally came to pass with the creation of a mandate for ethnic broadcasting. Johnny Lombardi was the President of the Canadian Association of Ethnic (Radio) Broadcasters (CAEB) which includes ethnic member stations across Canada, and his son Lenny now carries on the position of President for the CAEB.
In January of l984 an agreement was signed between the United States of America and Canada,giving CHIN, after eight years of sunrise-to-sunset broadcasting restrictions, the permission to broadcast 24 hours around the clock on the AM l540 band as it did on the FM l00.7 band. CHIN's AM transmitter was then moved from its Mississauga site to the Toronto Island to better serve its listeners. CHIN-AM 1540 Stereo transmits from the Island; sister station, CHIN-FM100.7 Stereo transmits from the CN Tower. CHIN AM1540 now simulcasts on FM91.9 that boosts signal in certain areas.
Via the medium of radio, television, and special concerts and events, CHIN continues, non-stop, to commit itself to promoting better understanding amongst all Canadians.
