PRESS COMMUNITY RELEASE.
Name | Citation | Remarks | ||||
1. CHIN Radio/ TV International, Toronto, ON | Canada’s pioneer Diversity Radio and TV Station | “United Nations” of languages in Canada and home to VMRTN’s pioneer chit-chat Yoruba-language weekly radio program | ||||
2. Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) , Toronto | Canada’s premier organization grouping agencies and groups helping immigrants | Advocacy and other activities for the welfare of immigrants; initiator of the African Canadian Leaders Network (ACLN) | ||||
3. Dice Ailes | Musician and hip hop artiste | VMRTN music ambassador and provider of Canadian content to the weekly Yoruba program | ||||
4. Joshua’s Creek Arenas | Home base provider for VMRTN operations | Town of Oakville facility that encourages diversity activities | ||||
5. Oyinda Alabi | Children and Youth Coordinator, VMRTN | Student at York University, Toronto. | ||||
6. Abdul Muqtadir | VMRTN Seniors and Faith-based Coordinator | Long-time resident of Oakville, volunteer and outreach activities on seniors’ wellness and care. | ||||
7. Ms. Joanne Locker | Town of Oakville | VMRTN Advisor & Mentor | ||||
8. Michael K. Abiodun | Publisher, Oases, Online magazine | Atupa segment producer, VMRTN’s weekly E Gbe Yewo Yoruba radio program on Chin Radio TV 1540 AM, 91.9 FM | ||||
9. Theresa F. Alabi | Oakville, Ontario | Main host and presenter, VMRTN’s weekly E Gbe Yewo Yoruba radio program on Chin Radio TV 1540 AM, 91.9 FM | ||||
10. Ms. Evan Ilupeju | Niagara Falls, ON. | Web designer/ administrator, VMRTN website, Graphics designer, social media coordinator | ||||
11. Afolabi Anoba | CHIN Radio/ TV International, Toronto | VMRTN’s Technical Coordinator | ||||
12. Ms. Milbonita Altrecha | Richmond Hill, ON | Coordinator, Filipino and Chinese activities | ||||
13. Ms. Michelle Minot | Toronto, ON | Coordinator, Caribbean and African affairs | ||||
14. Ms. Ngozi Ugoh | Publisher, Nigerian-Canadian Newspaper | VMRTN Advisor and mentor | ||||
15. Paul Ade | Show promoter/ Award coordinator | Producer of Black Achievement Awards | ||||
| 16. Vinny Soni |
| Contact 2 Command,a diversity marketing company | VMRTN VMRTN’s weekly E Gbe Yewo Yoruba radio program on Chin Radio TV 1540 AM, 91.9 FM and Moneygram representative | ||
| Kayode (Kay) Alabi |
| Oakville, ON | VMRTN Executive Director, Radio Executive Producer | ||
Visible Minority Radio and TV Network” (VMRTN) (also known as Visible Minority Re-Settlement & Training Network) is a collaborative, registered not-for-profit integrated radio and TV / community service corporation set up in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) of Ontario, and main office in Oakville, ON., to cater to the communication needs of the nation’s ever-growing visible minority groups in a unique, all-purpose setting, helping to fill the communication gaps among the sundry communities.
VMR
Research has shown that the mainstream media are not doing justice to the needs of these groups, thereby leading to lack of understanding between these groups and the majority population, and even among the communities themselves. Furthermore, there is a need to give our native languages a pride of place in the community while helping our younger ones, especially foreign-born, to imbibe the richness, history and value in our languages and cultures.
To this effect, we particularly use these media to project the following social and capacity-building activities that form part of our mandate: Senior and Elderly services; Newcomer Referral and Information; Supportive and Peer Counselling; Age/ Sex-appropriate social programs; Drugs/ HIV / AIDS programs; Environmental Awareness; After-school program for kids; Crime Prevention; Single Mothers; etc.
As our pilot project, we signed a contract with Toronto's CHIN Radio TV station International, AM 1540 Simulcast on 91.9 FM to broadcast in pure Yoruba language (Nigerian) every Sunday, from 5.30pm to 6pm with our maiden broadcast on Sunday June 8, 2014 (and every Sunday ever since). We hope to progress to other diversity languages and broadcast more frequently and for longer periods as time goes on, and as funding permits. Attached, please find a copy of theOMFE event flyer.
