100 years of radio: Meet the people keeping VOWR on the air

Ron LeDrew slips his earbuds into his ears and raises the microphone as he prepares to introduce a song.

Ron is one of 50 volunteers atthe Voice of Wesley Radio, orVOWR, a church-run, non-profit station known for its local charm and eclectic choices in easy listening music. In July, the station will mark100 yearson the air.

"We can go from gospel to blues to jazz to pop, classical, instrumental, Irish Newfoundland folk and it goes on and on," said LeDrew."In a given hour you could hear all of those genres of music."

LeDrew had dreams of becoming a radio announcer from the time he owned his first transistor radio as a boy. He was 18when he started volunteering at VOWR.

But long before LeDrew had his radio dream, there was another man at Wesley with a curiosity about the power of the airwaves.

Rev.Joseph Joyce of Carbonear began his ministry at the church in 1922.

The following year the Canadian government started issuing commercial radio licences.

As LeDrew tells it, Joyce had a vision to bring Sunday church sermons to the most vulnerable members of the community, elderly people and those who were too ill to come to the sanctuary to pray.

In 1924 the government of Newfoundland issued the church a licence and on July 20of that same year, the church held its first broadcast, which doubled as the very first radio broadcast on the island.

There was a morning service from St. Thomas Anglican Church and an evening service from Wesley.

One hundred years later, listeners can still hear church services every Sunday on VOWR.

Today, the non-profit station is run by 50 volunteers. Kay Donovan is one of the DJs.

"It's a beautiful concept that we could be on the air with no money after all these years and still rely on people who keep on donating to us and keep us on the air. It says a lot about what's happening here. VOWR reaches people, and not just old people either," said Donovan.

At 35, Justin Oakey is among the younger listeners tuning in daily. Oakey says he became a regular listener when VOWR first became available online. He was feeling homesick while living in Toronto and VOWR helped him connect with his roots.

"You're listening to Newfoundlanders talk aboutthe dinner at the legion on Blackmarsh and you're in Toronto. So it helped give me a little bit of nostalgia and that sense ofwanting to listen to home," said Oakey.

Oakeyhas since returned to live in Newfoundlandand has introduced friends of his outside the province to VOWR.

"I have friends from Toronto and New York and even in Europe," said Oakey. "They will tune into it from there because they can, and because they just think it's just a charming station and the music is good."

In her late 40s, Rayna Ford is one of the youngest DJs at the station. She said it's no surprise that VOWR appeals to all ages.

"People want to feel connected in a world so disconnected," said Ford."Everybody just wants to feel and and be heard and know somebody's out there and the people care and that there're still genuine people out there."

As for LeDrew, he said he often receives heartwarmingfeedback from listeners, which he said is proof that the 100-year-old radio station is still very relevant in the community.

"Alady said that her husband was suffering from terminal cancer and that's what kept him going overnight," said LeDrew. He couldn't sleep, she said, and he was racked with pain.

"He said the music from VOWR just kind of kept him going."

Download ourfree CBC News appto sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador.Click here to visit our landing page.