The History of the
Horizon Interfaith Council
In The Beginning... A "council" approach was proposed both for a smaller area,
Peterborough, as well as in a larger metropolitan area like Toronto.
(Another similar group emerged later in Waterloo.) At about the same
time, all churches and religious groups within both cities were invited
to a meeting to discuss how they could organise for best use of the
medium. The cable industry would supply technical expertise, recording
and cablecast facilities, and training where needed.
Consultations were held with people who were interested in religious
broadcasting, including consultants Dorothy Forbes and Merle Zoerb.
Dorothy Lapelle, producer with the Metro cable TV staff was also
involved. They decided that all religious groups could produce programs
if the interest was there. Religious groups were of special interest
because they were typically more organised than other groups.
Horizon Is Born The Cable TV program Horizon, as it has developed in Toronto, is an
example of community outreach, community involvement and cablecasting to
the community (which means community of interest, not a geographical
area). The Council is the result of community, church, temple and
synagogue groups accepting the cable organisations' invitation in 1977
to form their own association. In return, the cable organisations provide
technical help, studio facilities and other resources as needed.
An interfaith council was established in both cities in 1978. In Toronto,
it happened at the Metro Cable TV Company. Metro had approached 200
religious groups, resulting in the formation of a council with members
elected for a one-year period to represent all interested parties.
Sixteen religious groups became involved in the first year of this
project, including the Anglican Church of Canada, Baha'i Faith, Brahma
Kumaris, Church of God, Greek Christian Programming, Mohammadi Islam,
Pentecostal Assemblies, Roman Catholic, Church of Scientology, Historic
Seventh Day Adventist, Unitarian, United Church of Canada and
Christian-Jewish Dialogue. When Canadian Cablesystems (Rogers) acquired
the Metro enterprise the next year, the three Rogers studios were used
for production; about 19 groups were involved in programming at this
point.
Time To Go Citywide Thirty-eight different faith communities shared the facilities of five
different studios and had their programs released under the umbrella name
Horizon every Sunday from 8 to 11 p.m. Thus Horizon was now carried across
Metro by an electronic hook-up of all the outlets, known as the Cable Ten
Network. (This was a vast improvement over the bicycling of tapes that
occurred before that time. No more was there a necessity for a frantic
automobile or truck, or maybe even bicycle, drive from one end of the
city to another to take a tape from Studio A to Studio B and "get it
there on time.")
In 1986 the name of the council was changed to the more manageable
Horizon Interfaith Council. In 1998, we took another major step in our
evolution by making Horizon a non-profit corporation under the name
Horizon Interfaith Communication Media Council. So the original Metro
Cable TV Interfaith Council evolved into the Rogers Interfaith Council,
then the Greater Toronto Cable TV Interfaith Council, the Horizon
Interfaith Council and now the Horizon Interfaith Communication Media
Council.
Two important considerations prompted the next step. First, the cable TV
studios noted that they benefited by sharing production and carrying the
products of each other. Second, the churches gained by having a citywide
audience since religious denominations (more than most other community
groups) have no geographic boundaries. Consequently there emerged in 1980
the Greater Toronto Cable TV Interfaith Council.
What Exactly Is Horizon? There is an executive of five members. Attendance is good at meetings -
and not just because a member group must relinquish its membership if it
fails to attend half the meetings of a year or any three consecutive
meetings. Said one member, "I'm here because I find it interesting."
Meetings are held the second Tuesday of every month, with the exception
of December, July and August. For a considerable time, meetings were held
at the Rogers Cable offices but for a while now they have taken place at
one of the member churches. Meetings focus on television programming,
production and follow-up, but there are interfaith matters also. Often
there is a presentation by a member faith group about its faith in the
interests of fostering understanding among the groups, which enhances
working together in the studios and meetings. Programming matters,
development of special programs ("Specials") and training in TV production
are some of the topics included on each agenda.
Hrizon has always had its own formal Constitution, with revisions over the
years. Its official purpose is:
"...to help foster religious programming on cable TV in Metro
Toronto, to distribute available air time among all members of the
Council, to assure all religions groups are aware that the channel is
available to them, and to provide encouragement and assistance in planning
and producing."
Horizon Today
Last Updated: November 2000
At the birth of a new millennium, Horizon is seeking to expand its
"horizons." Currently numbered at 26 groups, our plans are to move
forward into new media by establishing a presence on the Internet. We
are sure the coming years will hold exciting new possibilities for
religious broadcasting in the Greater Toronto Area.