Happy 15th birthday 680News!
Last night we celebrated the 15th birthday of this radio station’s all-news format with a wonderful party at the beautiful Palais Royale on the Lakeshore. It was a gorgeous, warm evening to linger outside by the water amid the palm trees…yes, palm trees! Inside, the Palais is lovely and the staff are attentive and wonderful.
It was a special night to say thank you to 680’s clients for being a part of the station’s tremendous success. It’s not often that most of us get under the same roof outside of work and it was a very festive atmosphere.
The food was excellent. I especially enjoyed the chocolate fountain. There is no dainty way to shove a piece of watermelon in your pie hole, when it’s dripping liquid chocolate so I made sure that my emcee duties with Paul Cook were over before I truly indulged! I noticed it was a very popular spot on the buffet circuit and it’s no wonder.
I have to confess that when 680News signed on the air back in 1993, I was working at a competing radio station in this market, and I couldn’t see the wisdom in changing all-hits CFTR to this crazy all-news format!
It was, admittedly, a bit of a bumpy start - that tends to happen to pioneers - but over the years it found its way and eventually attracted enough listeners to become the number one radio station in the country. And it became must-listen-radio in my own home before I started here in 1999. I’m immensely proud of the work we do and of my colleagues who do it. Kudos to them and thanks to you for listening.