Rail Lands: CBC Builidng

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) can trace its start to the railways. In 1924, Canadian National Railways (CN) was looking for an additional amenity to offer to their customers. At this time, CN envisioned their trains as “hotels on wheels”, offering many services to their guests. These included barber shops, laundry, and telegraph services. One major advancement following World War I was the creation of public radio stations. Suddenly, companies now had the ability to reach people over vast distances almost instantly and CN wanted to take advantage of this amazing marketing opportunity.

On February 27th, 1924, CN Radio came onto the air for the first time and broadcasted a recording of “O Canada” over the air waves in Ottawa. To create a national broadcasting system, CN used a combination of their own and other private radio stations that they leased. Their first national broadcast occurred in December 1928.

Before CN was officially broadcasting over the radio, the company’s telegraph department took part in many early radio tests, including with the Canadian Marconi Company. CN used what they learnt from these tests to create their radio broadcasts. Creating a national radio broadcast required specialised radio equipment to be placed in CN trains. Radio receivers allowed passengers to listen to the radio broadcasts almost completely uninterrupted from coast to coast.

CN also outfitted its trains with a special radio car, in which an attendant would play radio transmissions. Passengers usually listened to the broadcast through headphones, although some radio cars used speakers. The attendant would also maintain the equipment, which they powered using large batteries. As the trains passed through different areas, the attendants would have to properly tune the reception of the new transmissions.

CN radio played a variety of radio shows and music, which CN sponsored. For example, CNRT in Toronto often featured the Hart House String Quartet in the 1920s. Some of Canada’s most famous programming also started on the CN radio airwaves. In 1931, CN Radio first broadcasted Hockey Night in Canada in Toronto and Montreal. Over 100,000 people listened to the broadcast.

News broadcasts also became an important part of radio programming. In 1927, CN Radio broadcasted the 60th anniversary of Confederation from Parliament Hill, which reached five million Canadians. As the popularity of radio increased, many radio personalities, like CNRT’s radio announcer Ernest Jackson, became household names.

As the popularity of radio increased, the Canadian government realized the benefits of having a national public radio company. In 1932, they established the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Corporation (CRBC). A year later, CN Radio merged with the newly formed company. In 1936, the government enacted new legislation to better fund and manage the CRBC. As a result, the government reorganised the company and formed the CBC.

Over the years, the CBC expanded their services to include news broadcasting, television, and digital media. Although the CBC’s ties to early railway radio are largely forgotten, many Torontonians might be surprised to learn that CBC Radio 1 still uses the same radio frequency in Toronto once operated by CN Radio.