Description
Since its first radio broadcast on November 2, 1936, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has enriched the nation’s identity by broadcasting the diverse stories of this vast country. In 2011, as the CBC celebrates its 75th anniversary, the Royal Canadian Mint is proud to offer a special commemorative coin and booklet that highlight the broadcaster’s many landmark moments, innovations, and icons.
For 75 years, CBC/Radio-Canada has covered all that matters most to Canadians: hockey, music, comedy, news, drama, current events. CBC began its life in pre-war radio broadcasting, as the first broadcaster to cover the entire country from coast to coast to coast. Where geographical boundaries limited contact, Canadians from St. John’s to Vancouver could come together around their radios to stay in touch with their compatriots and with what was happening around the world. The dawn of television added the endless possibilities of the visual medium. More recently, CBC/Radio-Canada has been pioneer in using satellite, Internet, mobile technologies, and audio and video streaming.
The Design:
The microphone depicted on this coin was created by CBC/Radio-Canada for the Royal Tour of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1939. It was designed for outdoor broadcasts, and its special wind-resisting device – commonplace today – represented a major technological advance. CBC and Radio-Canada’s daily coverage of the 11,265 kilometre Royal Tour was a milestone in preparation for coverage of the war.
This microphone is a reminder of the past, but also a testament to CBC/Radio-Canada's commitment to overcoming challenges, creating new technologies and breaking new ground to tell the stories that matter to Canadians.
