Community Service

OAB History

OAB Directors

The first organizational meeting to form a regional association for the Central Canada region (Ontario & English language stations in the province of Quebec) was held in Toronto Dec. 3/50.

Attending that meeting were Harry Sedgwick, Ralph Snelgrove, Lyman Potts, Tom Quigley and CAB President Jim Allard.

Purpose of the meeting was -

~ foster and promote the development of private radio among Ontario and English language stations in the city of Montreal.

~ encourage interchange of information between stations, help them develop their operations, and protect their interests.

Ralph Snelgrove, CKBB Barrie was the first CCBA President.

It is interesting to note that one of the first major issues the association dealt with was "performing rights".

CCBA was not the first regional association - - the Western Association of Broadcasters was formed in 1934.

The association has continued as a voluntary, not-for-profit association for the past 49 years and only recently in 1995, changed its name to the Ontario Association of Broadcasters to better represent its constituents - radio and television members in the province of Ontario only.

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Radio 38

TV 9

Associates 24

Honorary 5

~ A proactive lobby for members on regulations or policy issues, and a pipeline for Ontario broadcasters to express their views on proposed regulatory and policy changes which may impact on members.

~ Legal counsel monitoring of proposed changes to existing regulations and policy at both the federal and provincial level, so that members will not be caught unaware.

~ An annual conference (the past four years in conjunction with Canadian Music week), with a stellar line up of speakers and panelists - an opportunity for members at both top and middle management level to gain knowledge about our industry, exchange information and go home with lots of new ideas they can apply to their own operation.

~ An annual awards program to recognize and reward individual members achievements in 8 different categories.

~ A Quarterly newsletter, or as issues warrant.

~ One of the often overlooked benefits of membership is the training and leadership opportunities for those who serve on the board and executive of the association. Many go on to serve at the national association level, gaining even greater experience.

For some years CCBA held an annual sales training seminar which attracted upwards of 110 sales staff from member stations. These were subsequently dropped when the Radio Sales Bureau (now Radio Marketing Bureau) began offering training seminars.

~ The OAB's initiative to set up a collective to collect fees from monitoring services for use of members product will benefit both members and the association.

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~ Directors are elected for a two year term and are limited to six consecutive years on the board, except for the past-president.

~ Most of the Association's work is handled by committees of one including - Government Liaison, membership, Awards, New Media, Marketing & Communications.

The association has never had any permanent staff. From 1960 -72 the OAB Toronto office provided headquarters for the association when Ruth Hancock served as its Executive Secretary. When Ruth left CAB in 1973, Gerry Acton continued to fill her role until the CAB closed its Toronto office in '74 and Gerry moved back to Ottawa. The CCBA board decided it would like the CAB to continue to act as its central location on a fee for service basis and Gerry was asked to continue in his role as Executive Secretary. When Gerry retired in July '91 the board requested, and he agreed to continue as the association's executive director.

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