St Clair College President Patti France participated in the weekend celebration and the unveiling of the Rosalie Trombley commemorative statue at the foot of McDougall Ave. above Windsor's Festival Plaza. President France joined Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, Rosalie Trombley's family and Canadian Music Hall of Fame recording artist Burton Cummings for this special event.
The plaza area was filled with our community, past CKLW staff, on-air personalities and listeners of the AM Top 40 radio station "The Big 8".
Rosalie Trombley played a pivotal role in the radio business during her time as the music director at CKLW Radio from 1968 to 1984. Her influence on the station's playlist and her ability to pick hit songs earned her the nickname "the girl with the golden ear." The CKLW AM 800 station was a 50,000-watt station that could broadcast across Ontario and many U.S. states. Many recording artists attribute their success to her choices in featuring and promoting their music on the Big 8 playlist, including notable artists like Bob Seger, Paul Anka, Tony Orlando, Earth, Wind and Fire, Alice Cooper, Burton Cummings, and The Guess Who.
St. Clair College established a scholarship in Rosalie Trombley's name for music theatre performance students in 2011, honouring the lasting impact of her contributions to the music industry and her connection to the College. Her honorary diploma in Music Theatre Performance further underscores her significance in music, entertainment, and our community.
The commemorative sculpture memorializing the former CKLW Radio Music Director is the creation of local artist Donna Jean Mayne.
St. Clair College was one of the key funders, second only to the City of Windsor, for the creation of the commemorative sculpture in Rosalie Trombley's honour. President France wanted to continue the College's support of the Arts in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent.
The unveiling of the Rosalie Trombley commemorative statue is undoubtedly a fitting tribute to a remarkable figure in the history of radio and music, and it adds to Windsor's public art collection, enriching the city's cultural landscape.
For more about the life and career of Rosalie Trombley, visit www.honouringrosalietrombley.com.
