Johnny Lombardi (1915-2002) Commemorative Plaque, 2008
File information | File dimensions | File size | Options |
Original JPG File | 7950 × 5663 pixels (45.02 MP) 67.3 cm × 47.9 cm @ 300 PPI |
4.8 MB | Restricted |
Low resolution print | 2000 × 1425 pixels (2.85 MP) 16.9 cm × 12.1 cm @ 300 PPI |
627 KB | Restricted |
Screen | 1123 × 800 pixels (0.9 MP) 9.5 cm × 6.8 cm @ 300 PPI |
257 KB | Restricted |
Resource ID
4897
Access
Open
Address
Grace - College Parkette
Credit Line
Heritage Toronto
Date of Creation
2008
Historical Themes
Entertainment and Leisure, Immigration and Multiculturalism
Keywords
Italian-Canadian Heritage
Program Category
Historical Plaques
Rights
Heritage Toronto
Time Period
1900-1953, 1954-1998
Caption
Johnny Lombardi (1915-2002) Commemorative Plaque, 2008
Description
One of this city's best-known personalities, John Barbalinardo "Johnny" Lombardi was a pioneer in the promotion of Toronto's cultural diversity. Born in this city to an Italian immigrant family he became a self-taught trumpeter and entertainer before serving in the Canadian Army in the Second World War. Returning to Toronto he quickly achieved success by appealing to the needs of this city's rapidly growing Italian immigrant neighbourhoods - first as the proprietor of a grocery store opened in 1946 then as an impresario of Italian entertainment.
In 1966 Lombardi launched two vital Toronto institutions: CHIN Multicultural Radio and the CHIN International Picnic. CHIN the first station licensed in Canada to provide full-time multilingual programming began in rooms above Lombardi's supermarket at 637 College Street and expanded into television in 1970. CHIN Radio now broadcasts in over 30 languages from 622 College Street. The CHIN International Picnic now a three day festival annually attracts more than 250 000 people to celebrate Toronto's cultural diversity.
Dynamic and generous Johnny Lombardi received numerous awards for service to his community and his country including the Order of Canada in 1981.
Marker lat / long: 43.654852, -79.415628 (WGS84)