CHIN Radio – the waves of belonging
By Amelia Mola
Growing up with Italian parents, grandparents, or relatives, it was a rite of passage to hear one radio station filling their homes—Radio CHIN. For decades, it has been a lifeline for those wanting to catch the news, hear their favourite songs, and stay connected to Toronto’s Italian community.
At my Nonna’s house, the sound came from a massive old-school boom box that sat proudly on the counter of her basement kitchen. When we arrived on Sundays, while she prepared the meals that would soon become a beautiful family lunch, the sounds of Italy poured generously from its speakers. Voices like Claudio Villa, Massimo Ranieri, and, of course, Domenico Modugno drifted through the air, my Nonna singing along as she rolled braciole and rubbed sage leaves onto a chicken before placing it in the oven. As a child, I was fascinated by that radio and constantly tempted to play with the dial. “Non toccare (don’t touch)!” she’d shout from across the kitchen. That station—always CHIN—never moved.
Once you know your neighbours, suspicion disappears.
— LENNY LOMBARDI
As I grew older and began exploring Toronto’s Little Italy, I came to admire landmarks that spoke to its early history, like the Royal Cinema at College and Grace. My dad often recalls how his parents used to go there to watch Italian films. Outside the theatre, the Little Italy Walk of Fame is etched into the pavement, and one name always caught my eye—Johnny Lombardi. When I asked my dad about him, he explained, “He started CHIN, the station Nonna always listens to.”
Today, I’m a proud CHIN listener myself. This station has been more than background sound—it has been a compass. Through its music, I found not only a rhythm to my days but also a gateway into my heritage, a way for my Italian pride to take root and flourish. Each song, each word in the language of my ancestors, has deepened my connection to who I am. Naturally, I became increasingly curious about the family behind this cultural beacon in our city, which led me to Lenny, the son of Johnny, with whom I spoke about CHIN’s past, present, and future.
Lenny Lombardi was born and raised in Little Italy. “Both of my parents were born there, too. They got married there, opened their first business there—it was my home turf,” he told me. “I didn’t realize how Italian it was until I ventured to other parts of the city. Everything was Italian to its core. On Sundays after church, people would gather on College between Manning and Grace like it was a piazza. The women were dressed beautifully, the men in their Sunday best, and everyone spoke Italian. My friends were scattered throughout the neighbourhood, but we were all part of one big village. It was very special.”
As the son of the entrepreneurial Johnny Lombardi, Lenny’s first job was in the family’s grocery store, Johnny Lombardi Foods. “People came from all over the city—it was the mecca for imported Italian goods,” he said. “I started washing floors and bagging groceries, then worked as a delivery boy, which gave me a real sense of our neighbourhood. No matter where you were, you felt connected.”
By 13, Lenny was watching his father turn a new idea into reality. “My dad was always finding ways to serve the community,” he said. “He was a natural communicator and a musician, so broadcasting felt like a natural step. His first big concert was Mina at Maple Leaf Gardens in the late 1950s. He couldn’t believe the turnout—thousands of Italians showed up.”
With that same community support, Johnny launched Radio CHIN in 1966. It began with modest Italian programming but quickly became essential. Soon after, observing emerging immigration patterns and needs beyond Italian borders, Johnny saw the opportunity to expand into a multicultural station. He acquired an FM licence and began adding programming in other languages.
“My dad would literally recruit people off the street,” Lenny laughed. “If he went into a shoe store and the owner was Serbian, he’d ask, ‘Do you connect with your community? Do people listen to you?’ That’s how he found broadcasters—Portuguese one day, Greek the next. Few had formal experience, but they had trust and a voice in their community.”
Lenny, meanwhile, began working at CHIN at 15 as an audio operator. “I played commercials, spun records, and met all these producers. I was immersed in this multicultural phenomenon.” Later, while studying English literature at York, he moved into television. “I became director of our five-hour Sunday block. Directing, producing content—that was my ‘aha’ moment. I knew media was my path.”
Today, CHIN broadcasts on three Toronto frequencies and one in Ottawa, in over 50 languages. Though digital media has transformed broadcasting, Lenny says the station’s core mission hasn’t wavered.
“The evolution of CHIN has never really changed,” he explained. “In the ’50s and ’60s, programming in Italian was essential. It helped new immigrants navigate life—how to pay a parking ticket, find a doctor, a job, or file taxes. CHIN guided Italians through the cultural clash of moving from small towns to a massive city. It was essential for integration.”
Si fatta na bonna jobba
— JOHNNY LOMBARDI
Now, second- and third-generation Italians no longer need Italian programming in the same way, but they still want it. “They may not speak the language fluently, but they want to stay connected through the music and culture,” Lenny said. For newer waves of immigrant groups from different cultures, CHIN remains vital, offering news, updates, and support for settling in Canada.
Little Italy itself has changed since Lenny’s childhood. The streets once filled with Italians are now home to a more diverse mix of residents. But CHIN’s role in fostering cultural harmony remains. “Many immigrants arrived with the weight of war and old grievances. Our philosophy was clear: CHIN wasn’t about politics or religion—it was about serving, informing, and entertaining. That helped break down barriers and breed understanding across cultures. Once you know your neighbours, suspicion disappears.”
Johnny Lombardi passed away 22 years ago, but Lenny is honoured to continue his father’s story. “There’s a huge void without him, but CHIN is stronger than ever. I know he’d be proud I haven’t blown it—yet!”
CHIN is still very much a family business. Lenny’s wife, Grace, is a producer, and his sister Theresa is his business partner. Even his daughter Alessandra grew up around the station. “She’s a psychotherapist now, but she came to every concert I produced. It’s good to have a therapist in the family!”
Looking ahead, Lenny is excited about adding a fourth frequency and continuing to serve Canada’s diverse communities. “My joy is launching programs and seeing them thrive—watching their positive effect on people and working alongside dedicated broadcasters who’ve become friends. We’ve built this together, and seeing it flourish into the future is what keeps me going.”
In a world more divided than ever, with propaganda and social media promoting separatism, angst, hostility, and a list of other unpleasantries so long it’s enough to turn an eternal optimist grim, CHIN’s philosophy of breaking barriers through cultural understanding and support through community could not be more relevant. Its celebration of cultural diversity, bound together by the glue of humanity, reminds us that we are all on the same team—and we must not lose sight of this message.
And in the famous words of Johnny Lombardi himself, I would say that CHIN has “Si fatta na bonna jobba.” – VV
Photography courtesy of CHIN Radio & Amy Pigeon
