‘A regular gal from Bruce County’: Angie Hill celebrates 30 years on-air in Waterloo Region

Fans, friends and colleagues turned out to mark Angie Hill’s 30 years on the radio. CTV’s Ashley Bacon looks back at her incredible career.

A woman who has been helping people in Waterloo Region start their day for three decades was celebrated at a special event on Friday.

“If I could go back and do those 30 years again, I probably would do it the same way,” radio host Angie Hill said.

Over the years, the station, now called Bounce Radio 99.5, has changed names. One thing, however, has remained constant: Hill always puts community first.

On Friday, the community turned the tables and celebrated the morning radio maven.

The party began as the sun peaked over the Kitchener skyline. Dozens of people streamed in throughout the morning to share their love and support for Hill.

Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic also stopped by with a letter of recognition from the city. When Hill first started in radio, he was the councillor for her ward.

“Angie, thanks for everything you’ve done for local radio and for the community over the years,” he said.

To honour Hill’s spirit of giving back, donations for The Food Bank of Waterloo Region were also collected at the breakfast bash.

Owner of ‘The Crack Specialist’ and longtime listener, Wesley Rose, brought his whole crew by with a major donation.

“We listen to Angie Hill in the shops, in the trucks. Everybody listens to her,” Rose said. “We love her. I heard that she was having this little shingdig so we decided, ‘You know what? Let’s take all the trucks.’ Everybody came in early.”

For the food bank, the support was just the latest addition to Hill’s long history of altruism.

“I don’t think there is a charity, nonprofit organization, community organization that Angie has not been involved with,” Becky Riley, the Food Bank of Waterloo Region’s community events manager, said. “She’s one of a kind and we are grateful to have her in the community.”

Meanwhile, even in the midst of her own party, Hill was still thinking of others.

“We need those donations even more now, starting the Oktoberfest and Thanksgiving Day food drive,” she said. “[There] isn’t a better time to get that ball rolling.”

Hill has also been a vocal supporter of mental health initiatives. She earned the Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario’s media award in 2023.

In 2021, Hill teamed up with Rural Roots brewery to release Wobbly Willie’s Single Sandal Ale. It was named in honour of Hill’s husband, Willard ‘Willie’ Bowman, who passed away in February of that year. Proceeds from the brew benefit the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Every time Hill steps up to the mic, the community is at the forefront of her mind.

Although it is unusual for a radio host to stay in the same place for three decades, the choice was an easy one for her.

"The morning show was number one and I realized I was living in the best community,“ she reflected when asked why she decided to stay. ”Then having my baby 7 years in, we made history by me working from home - the first show to do so. I realized I was valued by my co-workers and management and it’s a great place to raise a baby."

And it all comes back to being authentic.

“I think I connect with my audience because I don’t try and be something I’m not,” Hill said. “I’ve always been super straight-forward mean what I say and say what mean. No airs. No guesswork. You is the easiest person to be!”

Sometimes that meant sharing painful parts of her journey in hopes of helping others.

When asked about some of her most memorable moments, she recalled writing an article for the local newspaper about her own mental health journey.

“I think writing my article in the KW Record about my own experience with post partem [was one of my most memorable experiences],” she told CTV News. “I still hear from young moms how that article helped them or someone they know.”

An impactful career

Although Hill wakes up at a time most people are still asleep, she still finds the energy to go out into the community and take part in the culture of Kitchener-Waterloo, including hosting the yearly Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade.

In a time when it can be hard to cut through the noise of endless entertainment options, Hill’s colleagues said it is her authenticity and enthusiasm that sets her apart.

“[Hill] was the most engaging, welcoming person,” Larry Silver, former 105.3 Kool FM and KFun 99.5 radio host, said. “She was really, really terrific to me.”

He added that Hill helped show him the ropes and taught him more about the business.

“In this industry it is rare to find a radio personality in the same market for 30 years,” Silver said. “I think it speaks volumes, not only for the individual, Angie Hill, but for the community as well, that they would support her as well as she supports Waterloo Region.”

Meanwhile, Virgin Radio host Rae Kelly, who works one door down the hall from Angie, called her one of the kindest, strongest, funniest and most talented people she’s ever worked with.

“It’s easy to see why she’s been a steady, inspiring voice in Kitchener for 30 years,” she told CTV News. “She truly loves this region as much at it loves her. Trust me, she is just as inspiring behind the scenes as she is on the air!”

Fellow Bounce Radio host Michelle Cruise called Hill ‘a giver.’

“She gives so much of herself to this community, but I know she’d be the first to tell you that whatever she gives, she gets back in droves,” Cruise said. “Angie gets that that’s what it’s all about - that’s what makes the 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. alarm that much more bearable. And 30 years of being able to do it in one place? What a feat!”

The outpouring of love did not surprise Hill’s co-host on Bounce Morning, Sarge.

“She’s very well connected and knows a lot about the community that she’s been in,” he said. “It’s been 30 years. Let’s be honest, you don’t stay around this long and not absorb what’s happening in your community.”

“I love you kid,” Sarge continued. “I wish you the best, and maybe another 30 years in this crazy business.”

As for Hill, despite the fanfare, she remains humble.

“I think it’s going to take a while for me to absorb it all,” she said. “I’m just a regular gal from Bruce County who lucked into an amazing career in probably the best place in the world.”