Johnny Lombardi outside CHIN Radio.
This December is the 100th birthday of an iconic Canadian, Johnny Lombardi, fondly known as Mr. Toronto. A recent documentary details how Lombardi impacted the rich culture of Toronto by pioneering the first Canadian multilingual radio station in 1966, CHIN Multicultural Radio.
Son of an Italian first generation immigrant and an influential member of the Italian community, Lombardi, often referred to as the “Mayor of Little Italy,” lived most of his life within College and Grace Street, where you will now see a memorial statue of the iconic Canadian.
Lombardi will forever be remembered as the pioneer of multicultural broadcasting, a Canadian soldier and impresario. His awards and medals are a testimony to his extensive achievements; Broadcaster of the Year, Official Knight of the Italian Republic, Toronto Civic Award of Merit, among many others.
When Lombardi began CHIN Radio — the IN stands for International — he created content tailored to the Italian community, igniting his passion for broadcasting. In 1966, Lombardi successfully launched CHIN Radio, coinciding with the burgeoning Italian community. Eventually, Lombardi’s station expanded, broadcasting to more than 30 ethnic groups and produced programs in 32 languages.
CHIN Radio became a voice for the marginalized, and served to give newcomers a sense of familiarity in their new home. Lombardi continued to pave the way for cultural diversity, founding the first inclusive multicultural festival, the CHIN International Picnic, created to celebrate cultural diversity in Toronto.
On top of being remembered as a champion of inclusivity, he was also a Canadian soldier in the Second World War, an impresario of Italian entertainment and an Order of Canada recipient.