CHIN Radio/TV president Lenny Lombardi has much to celebrate this weekend as the broadcaster marks its 60th anniversary. Despite Italy's absence from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is co-hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico, Lombardi is focused on the milestone festivities.
A Milestone Celebration
The 60th anniversary of CHIN will be a highlight of the annual CHIN Picnic, part of the Taste of Little Italy festival on College Street between Bathurst and Shaw Streets. A special ceremony is scheduled for Saturday at 4 p.m. at CHIN's headquarters on College Street.
"We're going to have a cake-cutting ceremony because that's a traditional thing that we Italians love to do," said Lombardi, 73. "I've got some guest speakers with kind remarks about CHIN's history, and then we're going to release 60 balloons and give away a couple hundred balloons to the audience in attendance."
Pioneering Multicultural Broadcasting
Founded in 1966 by Johnny Lombardi, Lenny's father, CHIN became one of the first broadcasters dedicated to serving immigrant communities in their own languages. Today, it broadcasts in over 50 languages each week across Toronto and Ottawa.
"I like to believe that CHIN Radio played an important role in the flourishing of the notion of multiculturalism," said Lombardi, who became president in 1985. "Toronto is one of the great cities in Canada that truly represents the positive aspect of that. The whole sense of inclusion and diversity and the celebration of one's culture. CHIN Radio over the last 60 years set that tone that was undeniable in the growth of the city."
Since its launch, CHIN has expanded from two radio stations to five, with four in Toronto and one in Ottawa. It also remains active in television, partnering with Rogers Communications to broadcast 12 hours weekly of multicultural programs on Citytv and OMNI.
Remembering the CHIN Bikini Contest
The once-popular CHIN bikini contest, which ended a decade ago, is fondly remembered. "It was a big deal," Lombardi said. "It started as a Miss CHIN Picnic, but because of the picnic and summer atmosphere on Toronto Island, someone came up with the idea of a bikini contest. It was warmly embraced and became pretty famous, maybe even infamous."
World Cup and Festival Atmosphere
With Italy not in the 2026 World Cup, Lombardi will be cheering for Canada, with Argentina and Portugal as backups. He expects College Street to be bustling with soccer fans. "Our neighbourhood has become soccer central for many years," he said. "During festivals, we have TV monitors in cafes and bars, and big screens everywhere, so people love to come down and watch the games while enjoying the Taste of Little Italy and CHIN Picnic."
