Radio Reunion - Class of '84

Radio- helping folks stay connected. 😊

The CNE has upped their game on booking acts for the Bandshell stage this year. Free with General Admission. Let’s Go to The Ex.

Bell CNE Bandshell — The Ex Let's Go To The Ex

(Picture - Belleville residents protesting bridges by defiantly crossing the mighty Moira river.)

Hello Radio Types!

Well, you haven’t heard from your ad hoc reunion organizing committee in a while for various reasons that include the obligations of our regular lives but the main reason you haven’t is we were waiting on Loyalist College. After our initial query in February, we were told of factors that would delay any affirming whether we could use the residence facilities. At least 4 other email probes by us later the college confirmed last week that unfortunately they would not be able to accommodate us this year because of various updates to fire safety systems etc.
I have been meaning to get this email out for a week and soon as we knew and consulted one another but my work got in way, apologies.

The above factors combined with the underwhelming response by potential participants has led us to conclude there may not be the magic to make this happen this year. Perhaps too close to last? However, if there was a flood of response after this email we may reconsider? Anyway, it would be hotels as accommodation or B&B’s, Air B&B’s, under Bridges. We would propose a rethink for another year and still celebrate 40 years 😊.

Comments welcome,

Dave Smythe on behalf of Martina, Rebecca, Angela

MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT! Reunion Plans.
It was over a game of Ouija in a dark basement lit with one candle that it was decreed that a Radio Reunion must take place again in the year 2024! 40th Anniversary of ’84 Graduation!
Martina floated the idea to the rest of the team that organized 2022 and here we are.

We are making this announcement earlier than before to give lots of lead time to you, the possible participant, to indicate your interest and to work on lodging logistics.

Dates: Friday July 12th – Sunday 14th, 2024
Location: Belleville/Or? - Currently the plan is to duplicate the setting we felt was perfect at the residences at Loyalist College in 2022. HOWEVER, Loyalist College can’t confirm to us now that this will be possible until “end of February”. We will continue to press and call-in college favours. Anyone that’s worked there awhile and knows someone who knows someone?

We were going to wait until we knew about Loyalist but felt better to go forward and gauge interest ASAP.
So, it’s early days and we do not have a Plan B if residences fall through. We have floated the idea that perhaps it does not have to be Belleville? Ideas?

OK, that’s about it so far, plans are percolating. Let us know if you can make it in July.

Sincerely,
Dave Smythe on behalf of the other ad hoc committee members, Martina Fitzgerald, Rebecca Wilkinson, Angela Read

One last thing, we will be announcing this same information ONE TIME over at the 2022 page called “Loyalist Reunion July 15-16, 2022” (Mark Roberts started) but all following information will here at “Radio Reunion - Class of '84” (Charles Jones started and now with other admins) This effort is to consolidate Radio ’84 happenings to one page. I will attempt to migrate memory type posts from the previous one (2022) to here. There is also “Loyalist radio summer retreat” (Eric Ervine started), I will post there as well to capture any who are unaware the other pages exist.

Hey alumni! Here's the latest email from Bryan today (btw, his email is the same)...
Hi Eric, thanks for the messages. I enjoy reading them but typing is difficult so I certainly don’t reply as frequently as I would like. (Gail is typing this for me). Life is good and the alternative sucks. I’m appreciating more quiet things now than I did before - nature, bird sightings, morning coffee in the hot tub, dog walks - with lots of tv and reading thrown in. I always did enjoy eating and still do - Gail makes me eat more healthy stuff than I would on my own but she perseveres in hopes that I’ll learn to like it. My life is definitely quieter than it used to be. Age and Covid forced us all to change a bit. We still go back and forth from Manitoulin Island in the summer months to Florida in the winter months, with the odd cruise in between if we’re lucky and have any room left on the credit cards. I don’t golf any more but still drive the golf cart - that was usually more fun anyway. We welcome guests at either of our homes and often have family and friends around - which we always enjoy - I’m still a party animal I guess. Music will always be important - we attended a concert last evening and have tickets to another one coming up so those are fun events, especially the music we listened to when we were young!
Let me know what’s happening in your life.
Cheers, Bryan

Ques: Has anyone heard from Bryan Olney lately? I haven't heard anything from him in I think close to 3 years now. I've emailed a few times, but no reply.🤔

FYI... Thinking of Mike. 😕

Thanks to Bryan Olney and Greg Shatzman for years of incredible work to train so many young people in Radio.

... And that's a wrap! With final grade entry, this marks the end of the Loyalist College Radio Broadcasting Program as we know it. The program is under suspension, there are no current or incoming students. Yet to be decided is what comes next, and that discussion remains to be had. With demographics and location, the program was not sustainable. Sad to see it go, but it was the only decision. 91X FM Alternative Radio is going to continue, and faculty is off to teach other things. Thanks to all the grads and students and faculty over the years! To quote Willie Nelson, via the late Dandy Don Meredith ... "Turn out the lights, the party's over ...".

"Row for Dough" feat. Bryan Olney!😆

I went to the Ottawa Farmer's Market the past weekend and think I saw Dave Smythe there? He hasn't aged a day! 🤣

Good to know (in 1922)... test next week!😆