With a career spanning almost four decades, Sudbury broadcaster and generous good-deed doer Mellaney Dahl is a recognized voice.
When she retired after almost 35 years on the air at Q92 on Nov. 29, she didn’t go with a cry or a whimper, but with a swan song.
“I promised I would sing the national anthem at a Sudbury Wolves game if we reached the fundraising goal” for Breast Cancer Canada, said Dahl, who has never sung publicly and does not have any training.
True to her word, Dahl sang “O Canada” to a large audience Oct. 18 when the Wolves played the Sarnia Sting.
“I couldn’t believe I did it,” said Dahl, who did take a few singing lessons and did a lot of practising before the event.
Dahl has always been up for a challenge.
The native of London, Ont., graduated from the Broadcast Journalism program at Fanshawe College in 1984.
There were very few women on the air in the mid-1980s and Dahl is one of the women who broke down the barriers. When this writer studied radio broadcasting in the 1970s, there was a crazy consensus among male program directors that women didn’t want to listen to other women on the radio.
Her first radio job was at Q101/CJET Smith Falls where she did reporting, read the afternoon news and hosted public affairs programs.
“The first thing I read on the air was the hog report, then the obituaries,” she remembered. (The daily report about pig prices, inventory and other statistics is important in farm communities.)
After paying her dues in Smith Falls, she moved on to a larger market in Kingston.
At CKLC/FLY FM, she was friends with the music director who knew The Tragically Hip when they were just starting out. She and her co-workers would hang out at the local bar where the rock group was the house band.
“I love the Tragically Hip … and I had the benefit of seeing them right when they started,” she said.
After a short stint in Toronto, she was offered another challenge in 1990. She moved north to join the staff of Q92, Sudbury’s new rock station and soon its most popular one.
“They were starting a new rock station and they needed someone to do a solid public affairs show for an hour a day. It was called ‘Midday Q’ and had local interviews and features.”
Morning man David Sturgeon liked Dahl’s wit and invited her to join him on his show. “Sturge & Mell in the Morning” was a success with the Q92 audience.
“Dave and I had great chemistry,” she said. “He also found me my husband, Andre Vezina. We were on remote at the Outside Store on Cedar Street. A man came in and went over to Dave and said hello.
“When he left, I said to Dave, ‘You know a good-looking man like that and you don’t tell your single co-host?’ Dave knew Andre worked somewhere in a plaza. He went door-to-door looking for him and when he finally found him, gave him my phone number.
“Dave told me not to mess it up and I didn’t. We have been married for 31 years.”
After a series of morning co-hosts, in 2016 Dahl became the lone host of the morning show which is prime time in radio.
“I liked having total control over the editorial content…I liked pushing my own buttons, doing my own operating and production,” said the self-confessed control freak.
Thirty-five years at one radio station is an achievement in the revolving-door radio business where hosts are at the mercy of fickle audience ratings.
“I loved my job but I wanted to do other things … the timing was right” to retire, she said.
In 2012, Dahl was awarded the Q92 Employee of the Year and she received the Community Involvement Award in 2013 from Rogers Communications. In 2016, she was named a YWCA Woman of Distinction.
In 2017, BPW Greater Sudbury honoured Dahl, “for using her skills to help make Sudbury a better place to live, work and play.”
Marianne Matichuk, who was president of the women’s club at the time, said, “BPW recognizes Mellaney Dahl, not only as a dedicated radio announcer but for being a strong voice in helping those in need within the community through her dedication to our local food banks and in supporting the growth of young women within her profession.”
Sudbury MPP Jamie West paid tribute to Dahl in a statement Nov. 27 at Queen’s Park.
“Sudbury loves listening to Mell. She’s quick with a laugh. She’s got a caring heart. She’s known for her dedication to helping our community,” he said.
“Mell is regularly involved with the chamber of commerce’s International Women’s Day. She mentors many young female announcers and she’s an advocate for various charities, too many to list.
“Closest to her heart, however, would be the Sudbury Food Bank. Mell is the president of the food bank and volunteers like Mell help ensure that the Edgar Burton Christmas Food Drive continues to be the largest per capita food drive in Ontario and one of the biggest in Canada. Knowing Mell, she’d ask all of us to celebrate her retirement with donations to the food bank.
“Speaker, after 35 years as a Q92 announcer and content director, Mell will be greatly missed. I believe I speak for all of Sudbury when I say, thank you for everything, Mell. Congratulations. We hope you rock your retirement.”
At 61, Dahl is entering her prime.
The mother of two adult daughters, Erica and Jayde, is looking forward to relaxing and travelling with her husband.
She doesn’t know what her second act will be but she knows it will be something challenging.
Vicki Gilhula is a freelance writer. Prime is made possible by our Community Leaders Program.
