New records in radio broadcasting were established during the first three days of July, when many of the addresses made at the chief gatherings, in Ottawa organized for the main events in connection with the observance of the Diamond Jubilee of the Confederation of the Dominion of Canada, were picked up by microphones, thence carried by wires to strategic stations, to be transmitted by air until every part of the land between the Atlantic and the Pacific might have the opportunity of participating in the nation-wide celebration. In point of distance covered by this gigantic tie-in all previous records were surpassed. In point of numbers listening-in - a matter in which experts may only guess - the estimates run into the millions and even imagination is rather staggered by the suggestion that at least five million people were enabled to hear the sounds of the great carillon from the Victory Tower at Ottawa, the voices of the children raised in praise and song, and the voices of the King's representative, the Prime Minister, and other statesmen giving utterance to expression of thought worthy of so great an occasion.

Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King speaks on the CN radio program at Canada's
Diamond Jubilee celebration, Ottawa, July 1, 1927. CSTM/CN Collection #11618

From sea to sea, twenty-three stations were connected, one being situated at Detroit, Michigan, where "WWJ" joined the tie-in and broadcast for the benefit of its patrons in that State and across the border at Windsor, Ontario, and other points in the south western peninsula not ordinarily reached by radio transmission from Canadian stations. One other important station in the tie-in was "CF," at Drummondville, Quebec, the Marconi beam station, which gathered up the transmission from Ottawa and sent it on to the British Isles on a short wave length, there to be picked up by the British Broadcasting Company to be re-transmitted to the public in Europe.

Following the various broadcasts of Dominion Day and the following Saturday and Sunday, reports were received by the National Broadcasting Committee to the effect that the programmes were heard throughout the length and breadth of Canada, at countless points in the United States, throughout Mexico and Central America, while South America was also favored. Northwards, the transmission flowed into Yukon and Alaska, and it is hoped that it reached the furthermost posts maintained in the Arctic Circle, but it takes a long time to hear from these pioneers of civilization in the far North. Other reports indicated that the short wave transmission to England was highly successful and that the rebroadcast was, on the whole, quite satisfactory, the carillon, the singing and the speaking voices reproducing fairly well throughout the British Isles and the continent of Europe.

From this summary of the territory, in which the Ottawa programmes were heard, it becomes quite evident that an enormous number of individuals were enabled to listen-in, so that it is clear the estimate of five million listeners is by no means an exaggeration, if, indeed, it is not altogether too conservative.

CN passengers listen to radio on the Maple Leaf
radio car, c. 1929. CSTM/CN Collection - #32305-1.

Amongst the many who heard the broadcasts were passengers on radio-equipped trains of the Canadian National Railways, operators from coast to coast reporting successfully reception on such trains as "The Confederation," "The Continental Limited," "The Acadian," "The International Limited" and "The Inter-City;" and, in a number of instances, passengers on these trains sent by wire their congratulations to the Radio Department of the Canadian National Railways for the share contributed by the company. At a later date Mr. T. Ahearn, Chairman of the National Broadcasting Committee, forwarded to Mr. A. R. McEwan, Director of Radio, Canadian National Railways, the following communication: "Your courtesy in placing stations CNRA, CNRO and CNRV and staff gratuitously at the disposal of the Broadcasting Committee of the Diamond Jubilee of Confederation in connection with the broadcast of July 1st, 1927, was very greatly appreciated and I wish to express to you our very sincere thanks for your kindness in this reference.

"We have received a large volume of mail in regard to this broadcast, and the letters from the listeners in the area covered by your stations leave no doubt that the broadcast was greatly appreciated by them."

As an example of the success of the broadcast, an excerpt from the log of CRNV, the Canadian National Railways Broadcasting station at Vancouver, the western extremity of they system's chain, may be quoted: "Throughout July First programme, quality of speech was always such as to be perfectly understood." At another part the recorder reports: "Message from His Majesty, the King, read by His Excellency, the Governor-General, was the outstanding feature from our listeners' standpoint. This came through perfectly." From the eastern terminal of the company's radio system, CNRA, at Moncton, the Manager reports: "All three Jubilee broadcasts, July first, one hundred per cent successful. Lines perfect, giving us as good transmission as from our own studio. Out-door pick-up on Parliament Hill excellent, particularly of choir, after first number. Atmosphere and announcing very fine, making it easy to visualize the scene. From technical standpoint, broadcast an outstanding success and the reaction on the audience was inspiring. . . .Speeches of public men particularly enjoyed down here, as were the musical numbers and the audience of this station, as well as of Halifax and Charlottetown, numbering at least three hundred thousand, feel pride in their country, which can organize a tie-in of this magnitude with absolute success and make such splendid contributions to an outstanding programme."

These reports from trained recorders serve to indicate the manner in which the transmission was effected and suggest the enthusiasm with which the programmes were received.

CN President Sir Henry Thornton and party watch the Diamond Jubilee
celebration, Ottawa, July 1, 1927. CSTM/CN Collection - #11604.

At numerous points, in cities, towns, and small communities enterprising citizens and organizations made arrangements for the use of loud speakers, so that as many people as possible could listen to the wonderful programme. At Montreal, for instance, a public-speaking set was installed at Jean Mance Park (otherwise
Fletcher's Field) near the Cartier Monument, and more than twenty thousand people were gathered at the foot of Mount Royal to hear the programme. It was reproduced wonderfully well. The Carillon was not quite as clear as it should be, but that is a matter of technical detail which can be attended to in the future. But the voice of His Excellency, the Governor-General, carried so that not a single word was lost to those who formed the big gathering and the reading of the message form His Majesty, the King, evoked great applause.

The performance of the suite composed by Lord Willingdon, as played by The Chateau Laurier orchestra, under direction of Mr. James McIntyre, was admirably reproduced.

Again, the songs of Miss Eva Gauthier, a famous daughter of the Dominion, known far beyond the limits of Canada, were delightful and each number was rewarded by enthusiastic applause.

The various speakers gave inspiring messages on the Carillon, its purpose and its mission and every word was heard clearly and distinctly, even to the very limits of the large audience.

So it was with all the items on the programme and the spectator was divided in interest between the thoughtful matter of the addresses, and the marvels of modern science which enabled the great crowd of individuals to listen, in comfort, to a programme being offered at the Capital. One thought of the delightful fantasy of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and felt that "The Card of Avon" had not plumbed the depths of imagination to such wonders as this.

Crowds in front of the Parliament Building for the Diamond Jubilee
celebration, Ottawa, July 1, 1927. CSTM/CN Collection #11619.

Before the broadcast proper was started, a test of the lines was made, from Queen Exchange, in Ottawa, and the announcer was enabled to tell the listeners of the many gatherings throughout Canada. The announcer was also able to report that the test transmission was a complete success, radio technicians at every point on the vast tie-in required the co-operation of various agencies in Canada including those engaged in radio transmission, the telephone companies, manufacturing organizations and the telegraph companies operation in the Dominion. The connecting up of local stations involved setting up and the linking up of telephone lines from coast to coast. No individual telephone company operates throughout, and, in fact, on such lengthy sections as those between Levis and Moncton, Sudbury and Winnipeg, and Calgary and Kamloops, no telephone lines exist at all. These gaps were filled through the medium of the Canadian National Telegraphs and the Canadian Pacific Telegraphs. The Canadian National Telegraphs had in service, between Levis and Moncton, a special copper dispatching circuit just installed. In other places, double circuits were in use, so that a cut over could be made in case of emergency; but only one circuit was available to connect the eastern lines and it worked perfectly at all stages.

With the exception noted in the foregoing, there were two complete circuits from coast to coast, requiring some 23,000 miles of wire and the special services of 85 technicians, in addition to the staffs of broadcasting stations.

The Broadcasting Committee reported that in its ambitious project it secured the most willing co-operation from all telegraph and telephone companies interested, and that every facility in they way of plant, lines and personnel were placed at its disposal. In addition to the two railway companies there also co-operated in the scheme the Maritime Telephone Company, of Nova Scotia; the New Brunswick Telephone Company; the Bell Telephone Company; the Manitoba Telephone Commission; the Saskatchewan Provincial Telephones; the British Columbia Telephone Commission; and La Cie de Telephones Natianale, of Quebec.

CNRO operator in radio room, Ottawa, c. 1926.
CSTM/CN Collection - #26513.

Three million dollars worth of equipment, lines and apparatus were utilized for the broadcast and it was estimated that had the broadcast been arranged on a commercial basis, the cost to the promoter would have been at least one million dollars.

While all companies in Canada shared in the line-up for the tie-in and all the line engineering was done by the Bell Telephone Company's transmission engineers, under the supervision of Mr. J. E. Clarke, Chief Transmission Engineer, CNRO formed the key station, and the control room at the House of Commons, which picked up the programme from the different points was in charge of Mr. J. McMurtrie, Manager of CNRO. The staff of CNRO were responsible for all the wiring in Ottawa city. This wiring included the necessary circuits from the platform, located in front of the Parliament Buildings, circuits from the public address system, the observer's circuits for the public address system, circuits between the Control Room in the Parliament Buildings and Queen exchange to CNRO, these latter being in two groups, the broadcast circuit for CNRO; the other group being the circuit to connect to the Canadian National Railways' telephone line to Montreal.

In addition, there were four lengthy microphone leads and monitoring circuits from all points mentioned in the foregoing. The amplifiers, mixers, and other apparatus employed to pick-up and control the broadcast were installed in room No. 184, Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings.

Three programmes were broadcast on Dominion Day. The first, at 11.45 a.m., which was the inauguration of the Carillon; again at 3 p.m., when the Carillon was played, the childrens' choir of 10,000 voices was heard, and there were addresses by His Excellency, the Governor-General; the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and other speakers; and in the evening, at 10.30 o'clock, until 1.33 a.m., the following morning.

On Saturday afternoon, July 2, CNRO broadcast Colonel Lindbergh. It had been planned to broadcast the Thanksgiving Service from Parliament Hill, on Sunday afternoon, but a steadily falling rain necessitated a change to the Auditorium and at 11 a.m., the staff began to move the apparatus, completing the change at 2.28 o'clock, in the afternoon, in readiness to broadcast at 2.30.

At the conclusion of the Thanksgiving service, CNRO picked up the strains of the Funeral March being played by the Carillon, as the body of Lieutenant Johnson, of the United States Air Force, was being conveyed to the Union Station. Lieutenant Johnson was one of the United States aviators who accompanied Col. Lindbergh on the flight to Ottawa, and whose plane crashed, resulting in the death of the aviator.

The final broadcast in connection with the many events of the Diamond Jubilee celebration was on Sunday night, when Mr. Percival Price offered a special programme to the Carillon.

As mentioned previously, the Chairman of the Broadcasting Committee was Mr. Thomas Ahearn. Commander Edwards, Director of Radio, Department of Marine and Fisheries, was in charge of the arrangements and the technical details. Other members of the committee were: Mr. J. E. MacPherson, Vice-President, the Bell Telephone Company of Canada, Vice-Chairman of the Committee; Mr. Paul F. Sise, President, Northern Electric Company, Montreal; Mr. A. R. McEwan, Director of Radio, Canadian National Railways, Montreal; Mr. John McMillan, General Manager of Telegraphs, Canadian Pacific Railway, Montreal; Mr. H. M. Short, Managing Director, Canadian Marconi Company, Montreal; Mr. J. E. Lowry, Commissioner of Telephones, Manitoba Telephone System, Winnipeg; Mr. G. H. Halse, President, British Columbia Telephone Company, Vancouver; Senator F. B. Black, President, New Brunswick Telephone Company, Saint John; Mr. R. B. Baxter, General Manager, Alberta Government Telephones, Edmonton; Mr. W. Warren, Deputy Minister, Saskatchewan Government Telephones, Regina; Mr. J. H. Winfield, Managing Director, Maritime Telegraph and Telephones, Halifax; Mr. D. C. Durland, President, Canadian General Electric Company, Toronto; Mr. A. E. Dyment, Canadian General Electric Company, Toronto; Mr. Paul G. Myler, President, Canadian Westinghouse Company, Hamilton.