{"id":2760,"date":"2023-05-20T00:40:49","date_gmt":"2023-05-20T04:40:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/toronto1.one\/?p=2760"},"modified":"2023-10-02T03:27:12","modified_gmt":"2023-10-02T07:27:12","slug":"johnny-lombardi-the-story-of-a-toronto-radio-entrepreneur","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/toronto1.one\/en\/eternal\/johnny-lombardi-the-story-of-a-toronto-radio-entrepreneur-2760","title":{"rendered":"Johnny Lombardi: The Story of a Toronto Radio Entrepreneur"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>Johnny Lombardi is considered the pioneer of Canadian multicultural radio, writes <a href=\"https:\/\/toronto1.one\/ua\">toronto1.one<\/a>. This is quite true, as it was he who founded the famous radio station CHIN in 1966.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a32e00c7e60c\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a32e00c7e60c\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/toronto1.one\/en\/eternal\/johnny-lombardi-the-story-of-a-toronto-radio-entrepreneur-2760\/#Early_years\" >Early years<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/toronto1.one\/en\/eternal\/johnny-lombardi-the-story-of-a-toronto-radio-entrepreneur-2760\/#Own_business\" >Own business<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/toronto1.one\/en\/eternal\/johnny-lombardi-the-story-of-a-toronto-radio-entrepreneur-2760\/#Creating_a_Radio_Station\" >Creating a Radio Station<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/toronto1.one\/en\/eternal\/johnny-lombardi-the-story-of-a-toronto-radio-entrepreneur-2760\/#An_unusual_interpretation\" >An unusual interpretation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/toronto1.one\/en\/eternal\/johnny-lombardi-the-story-of-a-toronto-radio-entrepreneur-2760\/#A_failed_attempt\" >A failed attempt<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/toronto1.one\/en\/eternal\/johnny-lombardi-the-story-of-a-toronto-radio-entrepreneur-2760\/#Family_and_an_interesting_nickname\" >Family and an interesting nickname<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/toronto1.one\/en\/eternal\/johnny-lombardi-the-story-of-a-toronto-radio-entrepreneur-2760\/#The_End_of_the_Earthly_Journey\" >The End of the Earthly Journey<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Early_years\"><\/span><strong>Early years<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Johnny was born in the heart of Toronto on December 4, 1915, in a family of Italian immigrants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The future entrepreneur began his career in music, playing in an orchestra that was very popular in Ontario at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the Second World War broke out, he began serving in the Canadian Army. He reached the rank of sergeant, and during the war, he entertained his fellow soldiers by playing various compositions on the trumpet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Own_business\"><\/span><strong>Own business<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>He returned to Toronto in 1946 and immediately started thinking about starting his own business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1948, he opened a supermarket called Lombardi&#8217;s Supermarket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Later, he began producing a one-hour Italian music program on CHUM. Using the opportunity of his program, he publicly advertised his own supermarket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s fair to say that the program was quite successful, so the store prospered as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Johnny&#8217;s business gained momentum and this allowed him to reach a new level. He began promoting sports and concert events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Creating_a_Radio_Station\"><\/span><strong>Creating a Radio Station<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It is interesting that our hero was a supporter of such a phenomenon as multiculturalism. This led him to create the first multilingual Canadian radio station. As you may have guessed, it is CHIN. Johnny founded it in 1966. By 1968, the station was broadcasting in thirty-two languages! But, of course, Italian programs still prevailed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thanks to this radio station, many ethnic groups in Canada had the opportunity to listen to interesting programs in their mother tongue. In particular, in addition to Italian, they broadcast Latin American and Asian programs. These included news, educational programs and various talk shows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"An_unusual_interpretation\"><\/span><strong>An unusual interpretation<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It is important to note that our hero later became a host of Italian programs as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Johnny also became popular as a businessman, organizing numerous CHIN picnics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, the businessman himself even reinterpreted the meaning of the name of his own station for these events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, he noted that the letter C stands for Canada, H for Happiness, and I and N for International. In other words, CHIN means happiness to live in Canada, a country with a multicultural international environment..<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_failed_attempt\"><\/span><strong>A failed attempt<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s fair to say that when municipal elections were held in 1969, our hero decided to run for Toronto City Council. Unfortunately, this attempt was unsuccessful and Johnny received less than two hundred votes. This led to his defeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Family_and_an_interesting_nickname\"><\/span><strong>Family and an interesting nickname<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As for the family life of the businessman, it should be noted that he was very happy in his marriage. Johnny and his wife Lena had three children &#8211; a son and 2 daughters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is worth mentioning that he was known by the nickname &#8220;Mr. Toronto&#8221;. He also liked to wear baseball caps in his everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_End_of_the_Earthly_Journey\"><\/span><strong>The End of the Earthly Journey<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Johnny&#8217;s earthly journey ended on March 18, 2002.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is worth mentioning that he died after a short illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When a memorial service was held in a Toronto church on March 25, it was attended by a large number of people, including respected politicians. They all honored the memory of the famous entrepreneur and unanimously agreed that he was the founder of Toronto&#8217;s multicultural radio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, it is hard to disagree. After all, thanks to the fact that Johnny&#8217;s radio station broadcast programs in thirty languages, marginalized people and newcomers could feel quite comfortable and gradually get acquainted with the new country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, these programs helped people to acclimatize and integrate. Johnny&#8217;s radio station also helped Canadian talents realize their musical and creative potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Photo: <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalarchive.tpl.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">digitalarchive.tpl.ca<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Johnny Lombardi is considered the pioneer of Canadian multicultural radio, writes toronto1.one. This is quite true, as it was he who founded the famous radio station CHIN in 1966. Early years Johnny was born in the heart of Toronto on December 4, 1915, in a family of Italian immigrants. The future entrepreneur began his career [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":358,"featured_media":2761,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1164],"tags":[2146,2145,2144,2141,2140,2142,2143,2138,2139,2137],"moimportance":[78,81],"motype":[1158],"moformat":[83],"class_list":{"0":"post-2760","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business","8":"tag-a-failed-attempt","9":"tag-an-unusual-interpretation","10":"tag-creating-a-radio-station","11":"tag-early-years","12":"tag-johnny-lombardi","13":"tag-johnny-was-born-in-the-heart-of-toronto","14":"tag-own-business","15":"tag-the-story-of-a-toronto","16":"tag-the-story-of-a-toronto-radio","17":"tag-the-story-of-a-toronto-radio-entrepreneur","18":"moimportance-golovna-novina","19":"moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatori","20":"motype-eternal","21":"moformat-vlasna"},"modified_by":"Viktorij Voitova","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/toronto1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2760","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/toronto1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/toronto1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toronto1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/358"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toronto1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2760"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/toronto1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2760\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2764,"href":"https:\/\/toronto1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2760\/revisions\/2764"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toronto1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2761"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/toronto1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2760"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toronto1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2760"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toronto1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2760"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toronto1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=2760"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toronto1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=2760"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toronto1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=2760"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}