Re: [HCDX]: 'V' stations in Canada

["Mike Brooker" <aum108@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

>--- Ralph Brandi <ralph@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> This is a holdover from when Newfoundland was
>> independent. Newfoundland only joined Canada in 1949;
>> before that, it was its own country,
>
>If I'm wrong, please will one of the Canadian readers
>correct me. However, I believe Newfoundland wasn't
>independent. Rather, it remained a British colony until
>1949. In that year they had a referendum with three
>choices - go independent, join Canada, or join the USA.
>They voted to join Canada.
>

There were only two choices on the referendum: to remain a British colony
(with the promise of eventual Dominion status in the Commonwealth, like
Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand), or to become Canada's
10th province.  Fortunately for Canada, the choice of joining the USA wasn't
on the ballot.

After the Canada side won the referendum, the date for Newfoundland to enter
Confederation was set for April 1, 1949.  But the Prime Minister of
Newfoundland, Joey Smallwood, decided to push the date back one day to March
31 so that Newfoundlanders (particularly those who voted against joining
Canada) wouldn't think it was some kind of April Fools Day joke.

The VO-- calls were assigned to Newfoundland in the 1920s, long before
Newfoundland joined Canada.  The Canadian government allowed the stations on
the air in 1949, such as VOCM-590 in St. John's, to retain their VO-- calls.
But new stations on air since '49 received the usual C--- calls.

BTW, the legendary Toronto Maple Leafs broadcaster Foster Hewitt used to
sign on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada broadcast with "Hello Canada and hockey
fans in the United States and Newfoundland".  After March 31, 1949, his
greeting was shortened to simply "Hello Canada and hockey fans in the United
States".

73
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Mike Brooker
99 Wychcrest Ave.,
Toronto, ON  M6G 3X8
CANADA
(416) 536-7406
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