Radio in the 1920s

By dobennie

  • 39 Stations from zero

    39 Stations from zero
    The first commercial radio station began at the end of WWI. By 1922 there were 39 radio stations that were broadcasting across Canada. Over the next 10 years the number would double to almost 80.

  • CKAC is created

    CKAC is created
    CKAC was a radio station in Montreal, Quebec. It was the first radio station in North America that broadcasted in French.
    Earlier that year, CFCA began to broadcast in Toronto as the first English language radio station in Canada.

  • Canadian National Railways Radio began broadcasting

    Canadian National Railways Radio began broadcasting
    Canada had 2 railways go across the country. To promote the railways and travel across Canada, they set up a radio station. This radio station broadcasts plays in English and in French. Sometimes it played radio shows in indigenous languages. It was the first national radio station in North America. It operated until 1932. It was then bought by the Canadian government in 1933 and became the CBC.

  • Rogers Batteryless in invented

    Rogers Batteryless in invented
    The Rogers Batteryless was the first radio to be made and sold that did not require the use of batteries. Instead, radio users plugged the radio into the wall electrical outlet (if they had one in their home). It was invented by Ted Rogers, Sr. whose business would eventually create the Rogers cable TV company, cellphone company and sponsor the Rogers Centre (Skydome) stadium in Toronto.

  • CFRB is created

    CFRB is created
    CFRB is the call letters for the radio station created by Ted Rogers, Sr. The "RB" stood for Roger's Batteryless". Ted Rogers knew that to sell more radios, people needed something to listen to. As a result, he created a radio station to provide content and encourage people to buy radios. Today CFRB is still working as a radio station - CFRB 1010.

  • Diamond Jubilee Broadcast

    Diamond Jubilee Broadcast
    In July of 1927, Canada turned 60 years old. There were celebrations across Canada, including in Ottawa. The celebrations from Ottawa were broadcast from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific at the same time for all Canadians to join in and listen to together.

  • Aird Commission studied radio

    Aird Commission studied radio
    The Canadian government became to do research into radio and how it affected life in Canada. The research showed that radio could be used as a way to promote Canada's culture identity, ideas, and people as well as help people across Canada get to know more about the country. It eventually led to the creation of the CBC radio station which later began CBC TV. The report also said that radio was a good way to help stop American culture from taking over Canada.

  • Foster Hewitt begins on Hockey Night in Canada

    Foster Hewitt begins on Hockey Night in Canada
    Hockey Night in Canada was a radio show on CFCA radio in Toronto. On Saturday nights they broadcast Toronto hockey games. In 1929, a young man named Foster Hewitt began to do the commentary for the games. He became the most well-known person on radio in Canada. Hockey Night in Canada eventually would be broadcast across Canada and become the most listened to radio show in the country. It still exists as a TV show on CBC.