TORONTO, Canada, December 20, 2002 — Christmas 2002 may well be remembered by many Canadians as the Christmas that political correctness met its match. For it was this holiday season that we first learned the 50-foot, decorated evergreen at Toronto's City Hall was to be re-named a "Holiday Tree"; that a marketing campaign by the Royal Canadian Mint had changed the lyrics of a well-known traditional carol to "The 12 Days of Giving", and that the popular retail chain Gap, had instructed it's staff to avoid wishing customers "Merry Christmas" in favour of "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings."
A combination of media attention and public protest brought about the reversal of at least two of those situations. The mayor of Toronto issued a statement saying it was perfectly fine to continue to call the conifer a "Christmas Tree", and the Gap produced a memo to their employees saying that wishing folks "Merry Christmas" would be o.k. after all.
Toronto's EZ Rock plays "all Christmas music, all season long"
It might come as a surprise then, to learn that in the midst of such an environment, one Toronto radio station has taken the step of playing "all Christmas music, all season long."
That station is 97.3 EZ Rock, (CJEZ-FM), a division of the Standard Broadcasting Corporation. The secular, soft-rock oriented station kicked off their Christmas programming November 22. Program Director Brian Depoe says this is the first year they've tried the "all Christmas music, all season long" format, but they've been considering taking the move for about two years. "We heard it had been done in other cities; L.A., Edmonton, Buffalo, St. Catharines," he said. "We did our market research. People told us we were crazy, but it's proven to be an enormously powerful thing. At a simple level, it's home and family and hearth. To the Christian community, it's one of the most important days on the calendar."
Depoe had a tough selling job - both "up the chain" and to his on air staff. "The whole team here was sceptical," he said. "Christmas music in radio is something that's largely been misunderstood. It's been something you have to do - not something you want to do."
'I personally have had over 1,000 e-mails alone'
| "I can appreciate that the decision to play Christmas music throughout the season must have been difficult and somewhat scary, but I applaud your resolve. It takes courage to take a stand on anything these days, particularly when dealing with matters of political correctness ... you have helped to make the Christmas season feel like what it used to be.
There is nothing wrong with enjoying Christmas music, and with becoming reacquainted with the true meaning of Christmas. In short there is nothing to be ashamed of in celebrating Christmas. The Christmas season is a time of family, friends, celebration and hope.
We do not celebrate Christmas with the intention of forcing our Christian beliefs on others. We ask only that those of other faiths exercise the same tolerance that they themselves would expect to receive. The Christmas message is one of peace and hope for all humanity. In these troubled times we live in, what can be wrong with celebrating that?"
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- from Galloway's letter
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If staff at the station were initially doubtful, they're believers now. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. "I've been absolutely astounded (at the public response)," Depoe commented, "I personally have had over 1,000 e-mails alone." Depoe added that the station's on-air personalities had also received e-mails and phone calls -- too many to count. He estimates 85% have been supportive.
Mississauga resident, Bev Galloway is one of the supporters. She describes herself as "a Catholic, but not a die-hard Catholic". When she became aware of the station's Christmas music in November, she was so pleased by what she heard she wrote a letter to Depoe, commending him for having the courage to play the carols. Galloway explained, "In the past couple of years, we would have Christmas music show up Christmas Eve or Christmas day and that was it. Because it just wasn't accepted.
'The minute you take Christ out of Christmas ... it's nothing.'
"But this country was founded on Christian principles," she continued. "And it's those very Christian principles that draw people from all over the world. It's a wonderful country. But the thing I've been noticing more and more with each passing year is that it has almost gone out of fashion to practice Christianity openly. People today are so intent on safeguarding other peoples' cultures and religions, that they aren't safeguarding their own."
"My concern here is that within five to 10 years, if we're not careful, we won't even be able to say the word 'Christmas,'" she added. "The minute you take Christ out of Christmas, then it's just an empty season. It's nothing."
And so, in addition to "Jingle Bells" and "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus", Torontonians have been treated to the sounds of "O Holy Night" and "O Little Town of Bethlehem" throughout the Christmas season.
Whether or not it's the beginning of a trend, is too early to tell. Depoe says he's aware that other stations are keeping an eye on what he and his team are doing at EZ Rock, but when asked if they'll be repeating the effort next year, he will only say, "I certainly hope we will."
Listen to EZ Rock at: http://www.ezrock.com/
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