Today is our birthday! 99.9 The Bay is 2!
We hit the air on August 28th, 2018 in memorable fashion at the corner of Park and Water … Playing Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” fifty-something times in a row. That got people wondering what the heck was going on and we were rolling from there. Check out the throwback clip below of our launch.
For me, the last couple of years have been mainly about two things. The music and the people.
We get to play such amazing tunes from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. It really is the soundtrack of our lives. Certain songs will bring me back to a specific moment. Others will give me a feeling of sweeping nostalgia from a specific era in my life. And I’m not alone, I hear from people all the time on the Tbaytel Talk & Text Line that the music brings them back as well. Sometimes (who’s kidding who? ALL the time) I just CRANK it in the studio during The Drive in The Bay, and wonder how I got so lucky to listen to the hits for a living?! Meanwhile, the news team is probably wondering how they got so unlucky to have to watch me sing and dance through the window between our studios!
As for the people, it’s all about you. We’ve been lucky to be out at events (hopefully again soon) and to be welcomed into your homes for In Your Neighbourhood and 99.9 The Bay House Parties. Those are honestly my favourite days. I love getting to know our listeners and we have had some of the best times. So many laughs, singing, dancing (unfortunately I think there may be video evidence) and talking about anything and everything! Live on Location shows at local businesses and happenings, it’s all a bonus for us. We get to be out in the community and get to see so many of you in person after becoming friends on the Tbaytel Talk & Text Line. We even had Boogie on the Bay! An old-school shaker at the CLE Coliseum. That was such an undertaking with the Thunder Bay Kings but all the work was worth it. Jam-packed, absolutely rocking to Honeymoon Suite.
It’s been an eventful couple of years. Mostly sunshine and rainbows and then … 2020. The pandemic has changed everything. I’m proud to be part of a company that was constantly trying to think of ways to help people. Mind Your Business was a great opportunity for local businesses to spread the word that they were open, or how they were modifying what they were doing. It was also a great opportunity for me to chat with these folks, and learn about what they were going through. Our community rallied, and it was really something to witness from the studio. The situation we’re in right now is stopping us from being up close and personal with you, but we still find ways to connect and I’m looking forward to our reunion! I plan on running up to you in slow motion like in the movies!
I want to thank the team here at 99.9 The Bay for the last couple of years, as well as our great community partners. I have so much fun with the crew: Jason, Ken, Retro Ed, the Newsies, and an incredible cast of characters behind the scenes. Everyone works so hard and legitimately cares so much. About the station, about the community, about being local, about the listeners. A special shout-out (and he’ll hate this but he’s not here today so ohhhh wellll!!!!) to John Ongaro. Although we both like to bust each others’ chops in the name of fun, a day of reflection on The Bay wouldn’t be complete without recognizing that he’s put his heart and soul into this station. Just listen to Mornings in the Bay once, and you know how much John cares about our city, so you know he will do his best for the station proudly named after it. I told John recently that if 99.9 The Bay is his baby, I feel like it’s Uncle. Sorry John, I guess that makes us kind-of related!
So Happy Birthday to 99.9 The Bay and, as my beloved Grandma Jean would have sung at the top of her lungs, AND MAAANNNY MOOOOOOORRRRE!!!!
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