People Helping People
People Helping People is a late night broadcast on CFRB Toronto that deals with drug addiction and other forms of addiction. It is hosted by Mark Elliot who is a recovering drug addict and alcoholic himself, on Saturday nights between 11:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m.
The programme began as a nightly four-hour broadcast on CKLW in Windsor in 1995, later moving to the CHUM Radio in 1996 - 1997 for a national run on stations in Halifax (CJCH), Montreal (CKGM), Winnipeg (CFRW), Vancouver (CFUN) and Victoria (CFAX). The show also aired in syndication on Telemedia's CIGM in Sudbury and CFCH in North Bay, although both dropped the show earlier than the CHUM stations did.
The program was cancelled by CHUM when the network said it was unable to find advertisers willing to spend money to reach an audience of drug addicts and alcoholics. CKLW had also planned to cancel the show, but found itself overwhelmed by angry listeners when the cancellation was announced. Elliot found himself on the air this time as an infomercial and took over ownership of the broadcast. At the same time he was able to find sponsors willing to support the show and added an affiliate in Toronto on Talk 640 CFYI. He also took advantage of the opportunity to relocate the programme to Toronto in 2000 where it continues to be heard today Saturday nights at 11 p.m. Eastern on CFRB and Montreal's CJAD.