National Farm Radio Forum National Historic Event

Toronto, Ontario
National Farm Radio Forum fonds [textual record, graphic material] (R2807-0-4-E) -- so I assume they are listening to that radio station (© Library and Archives Canada | Bibliothèque et Archives Canada)
People gathered to listen to the radio
(© Library and Archives Canada | Bibliothèque et Archives Canada)
Address : 250 Front Street West, Toronto, Ontario

Recognition Statute: Historic Sites and Monuments Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-4)
Designation Date: 2009-04-20

Other Name(s):
  • National Farm Radio Forum  (Designation Name)
Research Report Number: 2008-022

Importance: Exploited the power of radio technology to pioneer interactive distance education

Plaque(s)


This innovative national radio program introduced interactive distance education to rural audiences. Broadcast between 1941 and 1965 by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, its programming united farming communities from across the country around common interests. Relying upon discussion groups to enable informed conversations among neighbours, the program both instilled a broad sense of community and fostered local leadership and initiatives. This successful model would later be adopted by UNESCO to provide adult education for remote populations in many countries around the world.