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Waking you up with a smile - Part 2

Here's a look at some of the people who try to make your morning a little more enjoyable, on North Bay's radio stations.

This article is part of the weekly  "Helpers" feature, that focuses on people who contribute to our community.

Today's story is the second in a two-part feature that will focus on the morning radio announcers who work every day to greet their North Bay listeners with a smile.

KEVIN OSCHEFSKI
"Kevin-O'Clock-in-the-Morning" is not the official name for the KissFM morning show but it almost could be, since Kevin has been the anchor announcer giving people smiles and information for a decade now.

Oschefski grew up in Orillia, and listened to local radio as well as Toronto stations. A hero of his was Torointoi DeeJay Mike Cooper, famous for an on-air April Fool's joke where he pretended to be shot on the radio in 1976. Decades later when he met Cooper at a radio event in Toronto, Kevin got to meet and talk to him, something he remembers fondly.

He says it as a combination of a passion for music and the idea of a voice - like Cooper's - travelling through the air that enthralled him.

Eventually, Kevin landed in promotions at the North Bay stations - which involves contests and public events. It was when a popular morning team was leaving that his life changed.

"Dan and Jamie were a great morning team on what was then EZ Rock - now Kiss FM. On their last night, before they headed to a station out west, my wife and I had them over for a goodbye get together. At one point, Jamie said I should apply for the job. I said no because I wasn't on-air I was promotions. By Midnight, after a few more farewell beverages I said 'why don't I apply' and that started it," he explains with a laugh.

Kevin, 44, says he loves relating to people by talking about the minutia of everyday life, the things we can all relate to, like trying to get that last squeeze of toothpaste out of the tube. That gives his audience a laugh.
"The callers are the co-host, they're not just the audience, they are part of the show. if we can give them an escape for a few hours or a few minutes in their morning, we've done our job"

DEAN BELANGER
This spring marks 30 years in radio for Dean Belanger. For the past nine years, he has been the morning show host of North Bay's KFM 103.5 station, which plays Christian music.

While KFM's music is technically Christian, the station is not overly religious, but rather more positive and family-friendly according to Belanger.

"That's all we want to be, whether it's the 'bits', which is what we call our talking segments or the overall theme of the show, we want to give positive energy, and that's especially important during difficult times."

His station is a little different in how it operates as well - it's not a commercial enterprise, but rather a not-for-profit station and is registered as a charity.

Dean says his motivation has changed over the years - when he was young he regrets it was more ego-based, and he wanted to hear his own voice on the radio. He's humbler now, and more grateful for a chance to be part of the community in a positive way.

"The other day, I talked about nurses and what they must go through. A few minutes later a nurse called in and thanked us for recognizing them. Something like that sticks with me all day, more than any joke we do, any song we play or any contest."

"I always say to people they should give us a try and when they do they're surprised. Its not a 'church station', it's just a positive station, and all about community. You'll be pleasantly surprised," he adds.

VICKI TYLER
Vicki is the co-host of the morning show at 101.9 ROCK, with Mitch Belangare (Belanger's profile was covered in an earlier article as part of this series). The pair have been a team for 12 years.

She grew up in Dundalk in Southern Ontario and went to college at Humber for broadcasting. Her husband was a northerner from Sudbury and wanted to return this way, and eventually was able to get work with Ontario Northland.

She says one of the very best parts of her job is connecting with a city she loves.

"I'd never been to North Bay before. We moved here with our two girls and I didn't know what to expect. But I've never been so happy. Coming to North Bay was a wonderful decision. It's a wonderful place to raise my girls, who are now both teenagers," she adds.

Tyler says she always loved music, adding "I thought that would be the most fun job, and it is."

She says she also enjoys meeting listeners and learning their stories, what they do, and about their lives.

Her biggest challenge is the hours and having to wake up every morning at 3:45 a.m. "It's a struggle, but you get used to it. I come home and take a nap every day for a couple of hours, I'm just like a toddler,":" she says with a chuckle.

"But family is everything to me, so I want to be able to stay up until 9:30 or 10 at night to enjoy time with my husband and girls," she adds.