Iraq, Armed Forces, Leading Diversity Radio

Combat in Iraq, Appeal to Ethnic Community for Armed Forces, Leading Broadcast Source for Diversity Fundraising

By William Doyle-Marshall

While the Opposition parties New Democrats and Liberals in Ottawa are definitely against Canada’s involvement in the current combat situation in Iraq against (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) ISIL, the Prime Minister Stephen Harper has obtained approval to carry out his plan. General Tom Lawson wants members of the ethnic community to join Canada’s Armed Forces. Toronto’s CHRY Radio, the leading source for diversity celebrates its 27^th anniversary with a week-long fundraising event later in October. 

 With his majority in Parliament Harper’s proposal to join the United States-led mission in Iraq received easy support earlier this week which surprised no one. Speaking to members of the media in Whitby at the Abilities Center he reported the threat posed by terrorist organizations needs to be countered in many ways including militarily. It is important, Harper said, “when we are talking about the country’s security that these things rise above the level of partisan politics.”  The Canadian Government has launched its mission in concert with a wide range of allies across the world because Harper says they all understand it is necessary. “I think Canadians understand the threat from ISIL against this country is real. I think you have seen more and more information on that every day and I would note that across the world: it isn’t just Conservatives: it’s Liberals and Social Democrats across the world,” he concluded.

General Tom Lawson, Chief of Defence Staff of the Canadian Armed Forces met with members of the National Ethnic Press and Media Council recently in the Simonds Auditorium at Canadian Forces College (CFC). He spoke proudly of his home city Toronto which has now become very diverse. Lawson said administration wants to make sure that those who come and make Canada and Toronto such a rich place are well aware of what defence means to them. “We in uniform are defending those things that you are interested in. We are very interested that you comment and be part of the discussion on defence; see yourself invested in defence and of course hope that some of you or those you influence – your children, your nieces, your nephews – may consider a career in the Canadian military,” said General Lawson

Lawson said administration wants to make sure that those who come and make Canada and Toronto such a rich place are well aware of what defence means to them. “We in uniform are defending those things that you are interested in. We are very interested that you comment and be part of the discussion on defence; see yourself invested in defence and of course hope that some of you or those you influence – your children, your nieces, your nephews – may consider a career in the Canadian military,” said General Lawson

 October 15 through October 25 is Fundraising time for listeners, programmers and staff at CHRY Radio – the leading source for diversity.  Various ethnic communities including those from the Caribbean, India and Latin America listen to their favourite programmes on the station during its 24 hours of broadcast from the campus at York University. The station appreciates everything that listeners and other supporters do to help improve the services. “We always appreciate what our listeners do in terms of being truly listeners-supported radio. You support us all the time when you listen in to the shows; you call into some shows for requests and all of that so we know you are out there and you are supporting,” Danae Peart, station manager explained in an interview with Indo Caribbean World.  At this time annually listeners are called upon to support in financial ways, the manager smiled infectiously.

Vishnu Ramcharan, a Customer Experience Manager at the Ontario Science Center who has been a guest at the station on numerous occasion said when he thinks of the value of CHRY, he considers its role in “connecting us all to each other”. He is convinced that CHRY “connects us to a higher sense and a larger purpose  and so it eventually can help us connect back to ourselves; not so much to who we are but to who we can be.”

   For those who are new listeners to CHRY you may be wondering what is this about. What is this fundraising thing? Well, think in terms of other audience’ supported media like PBS where they do things like telethons and they ask for financial support. Similarly, that’s what’s going to happen here at CHRY during the ten days from October 15 to the 25^th,” he chief executive emphasized.

Veda Narain, host of the Sunday afternoon show featuring Chutney music and other Indo Caribbean expressions says fundraising impacts CHRY directly. In terms of her Guyanese-Canadian community she insists CHRY allows cultural programming to air, which in turn provides a place for “my community (members) to listen to cultural programming relevant to them.”