Prior Smith
Encyclopedia
Prior Smith is a Canadian broadcaster who owns and operates the network radio program Canada Calling and produces the Canadian syndicated radio show "Grapeline".
, (1966) CHYR Leamington
/Windsor, Ontario
(1967) and CJSS
Cornwall, Ontario
(1968) before moving to CJAD Montreal, Quebec in 1968. After one year at CJAD he moved to the legendary CFRB in Toronto in 1969. He worked as a general assignment news reporter/newscaster for the next 18 years.
While working in news at CFRB, Smith branched into radio network syndication creating and distributing a number of national radio programs, the most prominent of which is "Grapeline" featuring well known hockey commentator Don Cherry (ice hockey) and sports broadcaster Brian Williams (sportscaster)
. The program, the longest-running syndicated radio show in Canada, is now in its 28th season on The Sportsnet 590 The FAN Radio Network.
Also during his time at CFRB, Smith created a syndicated radio news program to serve traveling and vacationing Canadians across the southern U.S.
The Canada Calling network concept was created by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation sports and news announcer Dave Price. It was launched January 2, 1954 with affiliated stations in Miami Beach and Tampa.
In a twenty year career doing Canada Calling, Price was a familiar voice on Florida's airwaves. Price retired from the business he created in the mid seventies and sold the operations to Canadian broadcast executive Finlay MacDonald.
In 1977 Smith formed his Canadian radio news network and his coverage of the market quickly expanded to include all of Florida, The Bahamas, Arizona and south Texas. For a brief period the two networks competed for audience before the original service ceased operations. Smith's network continues the Canada Calling tradition. The broadcasts of "news from home" are now in the 58th winter season.
2011-2012 winter season marks Smith's 35th year as daily on air host of Canada Calling during which time he has never missed a broadcast.
Broadcasting career
Smith began his career in radio broadcasting with brief stints as a news reporter/announcer at CKLY-Lindsay, OntarioLindsay, Ontario
Lindsay is a community of 19,361 people on the Scugog River in the Kawartha Lakes region of south-eastern Ontario, Canada. It is approximately west of Peterborough...
, (1966) CHYR Leamington
Leamington, Ontario
Leamington is a municipality in Essex County, southern Ontario, Canada, and has a population of 31,113. It includes Point Pelee, the southernmost point of mainland Canada. It has a large H. J. Heinz Company factory and is known as the "Tomato Capital of Canada", with 4 km² of this crop in the...
/Windsor, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
(1967) and CJSS
CJSS-FM
CJSS-FM is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts at 101.9 FM in Cornwall, Ontario. The station broadcasts a classic hits format branded as Greatest Hits 101.9 FM....
Cornwall, Ontario
Cornwall, Ontario
Cornwall is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada and the seat of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ontario. Cornwall is Ontario's easternmost city, located on the St...
(1968) before moving to CJAD Montreal, Quebec in 1968. After one year at CJAD he moved to the legendary CFRB in Toronto in 1969. He worked as a general assignment news reporter/newscaster for the next 18 years.
While working in news at CFRB, Smith branched into radio network syndication creating and distributing a number of national radio programs, the most prominent of which is "Grapeline" featuring well known hockey commentator Don Cherry (ice hockey) and sports broadcaster Brian Williams (sportscaster)
Brian Williams (sportscaster)
Brian Williams is a Canadian sportscaster who is best known for his coverage of the Olympic Games.-Biography:Williams' father was a very successful doctor...
. The program, the longest-running syndicated radio show in Canada, is now in its 28th season on The Sportsnet 590 The FAN Radio Network.
Also during his time at CFRB, Smith created a syndicated radio news program to serve traveling and vacationing Canadians across the southern U.S.
Canada Calling
Canada Calling is a daily radio network newscast prepared in southern Ontario throughout the winter months. It airs on a network of radio stations across the U.S. Sunbelt and the Bahamas as a service for the three million Canadian vacationers who travel south each winter.The Canada Calling network concept was created by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation sports and news announcer Dave Price. It was launched January 2, 1954 with affiliated stations in Miami Beach and Tampa.
In a twenty year career doing Canada Calling, Price was a familiar voice on Florida's airwaves. Price retired from the business he created in the mid seventies and sold the operations to Canadian broadcast executive Finlay MacDonald.
In 1977 Smith formed his Canadian radio news network and his coverage of the market quickly expanded to include all of Florida, The Bahamas, Arizona and south Texas. For a brief period the two networks competed for audience before the original service ceased operations. Smith's network continues the Canada Calling tradition. The broadcasts of "news from home" are now in the 58th winter season.
2011-2012 winter season marks Smith's 35th year as daily on air host of Canada Calling during which time he has never missed a broadcast.