The longest continuous running TV program in Canadian Cable Television history, TVBINGO will not be returning to viewers this fall.
Fergus Lions Club made the decision to discontinue the fundraising program after years of trying to gain support needed to facilitate the program that runs every Wednesday night from September to April.
The Elora Lions club started TVBINGO on March 6, 1972, when Fergus Elora Cable moved to the Grand Theatre in Fergus.
The Elora Lions Club pledged $20,000 to the building of the New Elora Arena, and the TV program contributed. Playing cards were available for 50 cents each. Each week there would be a minimum of $100 in prize money. After several years of running TVBINGO, the Elora Lions club turned the program over to the Fergus Lions who pledged to raise money for Groves Memorial Community Hospital.
In a statement to CogecoTV, Lions Les Halman and Ian McArthur said. “We would like to thank COGECOTV Fergus for helping us to donate approximately $100,000 to Groves Memorial Community Hospital over the last two decades.”
On any given week it took about 12 people to make sure the program aired. The club worked with four teams so each worked once a month.
Lion Ben Collings added, “All us Lions grew and learned from the experience of helping to put on the show. Right now we are at a loss of how to replace that weekly hour of community service. Thank you CogecoTV.”
CogecoTV producer Larry Peters stated that it was sad to see such an iconic program come to an end.
“Each week we see the amazing collaboration of Fergus Lions volunteers coming together to not only raise money for a worthwhile cause but to offer a great outlet for our viewers to enjoy the fun and excitement of bingo right in their own homes. At CogecoTV our role is to train community volunteers in creating shows and to offer free air time to access our community. This is the best example of that. We will surely miss this Wednesday night presentation.”
