CHIN Radio Ottawa Celebrates the Holidays Bollywood Style

When Ottawa’s only privately owned multicultural-international radio station, CHIN Radio Ottawa, celebrates the holidays, it’s a spectacular event. The Lombardis, owners of CHIN Radio, invite the on-air personalities, staff, local municipal representatives such as City Councilors Eli El-Shantiry, Michael Qaqish and Jeff Leiper as well as local partners to a holiday bash at Sala San Marco that is über-multicultural and jam packed with decadence and Ottawa Life Magazine was there.

Each year, the event features in-demand local performers from a variety of cultures and this year was no different! The event started off with speeches. The MC honours went to Ross Wilson, CHIN Radio Ottawa’s news anchor and local actor/writer, he shared that 2016 has been a busy year, news wise; but now was the time to celebrate in the spirit of the holiday season. The sentiment was echoed by Ottawa General Manager Francesco Di Candia who further emphasized that the time was upon us to express gratitude and thanks. The five course meal was decidedly Italian and scrumptious – luckily dancing was also on the menu.

Bollywood For Fun kicked off the entertainment portion of the evening with their brand of fusion dance that has roots in ancient dance dialects and a variety of multicultural dance forms.

Talent House Canada actor, singer and songwriter Tzeitel Abrego belted out festive tunes that showcased her wide range of vocal ability as well as multilingual-ness! She composes music in English, French, Spanish, Italian and German.

Locally trained belly dancer, instructor and performing artist Aniseh Nesrallah performed in an encore performance (she performed last year as well). Her perfect performance even drew in people from a neighbouring party.

CHIN Radio was founded by Johnny Lombardi. His children Lenny and Theresa are still at the helm and carry on his legacy. CHIN was the first multicultural/multilingual radio station to be established in Ontario and began its tenure on June 6, 1966. CHIN began its unique multicultural/multilingual style of broadcasting to the Ottawa/Gatineau region in October 2003, and as such is the very first third language radio service in our nation’s capital. CHIN broadcasts in over 30 languages in Toronto and southern Ontario areas and over 20 languages and in the Ottawa/Gatineau region.

Fifty years in, the CHIN motto “We Speak Your Language” has not gotten old – only more meaningful.