On Thursday, November 14, CKCU 93.1 FM marked a major milestone—marking the start of its 50th Year of broadcasting! The station kicked off its golden anniversary with a special two-hour live broadcast starting at 11:59 pm.

After a countdown to midnight, CKCU played its very first song ever broadcast: Joni Mitchell’s You Turn Me On, I’m A Radio—and, in true CKCU fashion, it was played on vinyl. The airwaves were then filled with cheers, reminiscing, and heartfelt reflections from alumni, staff, and current hosts who have been part of the station’s journey.

A major highlight of the night was the live performance by Central Station, marking the first live music broadcast in CKCU’s 50th year. Alongside the performance, listeners heard from a diverse group of people who have been pivotal in shaping the station.

If you missed the live broadcast—or just want to relive the magic—you can listen to a recording of the entire 50th anniversary special on our website. It’s a truly special way to experience the heart and soul of CKCU, from its early days to the vibrant station it is today.

PART TWO: THE HUNTER/ARGIROPULOS-HUNTER AND WALKER FAMILIES

As the 50th anniversary of CKCU FM is around the corner, we want to celebrate familial ties at the station, highlighting the bond between families and community. Over the past while, I had the pleasure and privilege of speaking with four families contributing to CKCU. In part one of this article, we featured Boba and Mihajlo from Monday’s Encounter, the Asian Sounds quartet. Now, in part two of the article, we will dive into getting to know the Hunter/Argiropulos-Hunter and Walker families. Each of the families offer a unique approach in their broadcasting to CKCU’s audiences, be it through cultural and communal awareness, or by shining light on artists and creative minds that make up Ottawa’s music melting pot and other less mainstream scenes. 

Dylan Hunter has been a longstanding member of CKCU FM, with just shy of 30 years of experience under his belt running his show —aptly named after its eponymous host —The Dylan Hunter Show. His daughter, Zoë Argiropulos-Hunter, began her journey at CKCU as a co-host with her friend Owen Maxwell, sowing the seeds for what would become her current show First Crush.

Having both parties involved at the station has strengthened an already special relationship between the father and daughter duo. “It’s great to be able to connect with and share something”, said Dylan. Her father’s mammoth collection of music and records, alongside her experience with CKCU’s Radio Camp for kids (as an attendee and later in life a staff), were a big part of how Zoë became interested and involved at the station.

Zoë stressed the importance of being ready and open to hearing new music and uses First Crush to play selections that are overshadowed by mainstream radio. “Songs have a strong power to teach and to inform” she added. In contrast to more mainstream channels, community radio plays a central part in community building, which allows listeners to meet with and discover other musicians in the scene. Zoë uses her show to metaphorically ‘pass the mic’ to those who wish to make their voices heard. Dylan leans into playing a large mix of music that reaches far beyond the mainstream into smaller and more obscure record labels and artists.

While both father and daughter use their respective platforms to share the music they love with other people, the main goal for both hosts is to entertain their audiences. The dedication that Dylan and Zoë put into hosting their distinct programs at CKCU has provided them with a sense of purpose focused on community building and uplifting voices within community radio and lesser-known artists. 

Trevor Walker, like Dylan, has been with CKCU since the 90s, and is currently the host of Friday Drive. Trevor encouraged his father to jump on the airwaves with him and speak about issues concerning social justice circa 2010, all the while his father, Gordon Walker continued to stand behind Trevor’s work at the station and passion for delivering soul, jazz, funk, and afrobeat music.

Three generations of Walkers have contributed to the station, including Trevor’s 19- and 23-year-old daughters who have occasionally co-hosted alongside him. Importantly, Trevor wants the family connections to both Gordon and his shows to be natural and uncoerced, rather than roping them into something that they might not be too keen on pursuing. While his daughters’ interest in radio might not be the strongest now, there is always the possibility that it will blossom later down the road.

Gordon’s collection of music from classical, to folk, to music he discovered on the radio while posted in Ghana with the Canadian International Development Agency, was a large influence on his son’s personal music taste. All the music Trevor was exposed to influences what he plays on Friday Drive.

Trevor and Gordon Walkers’ hard work and dedication to presenting quality radio programming has sown the seeds for the family to voice the 93.1 FM airwaves. And while the three generations of Walkers find themselves interested in different aspects of culture and music at times, the family maintains a grounded and ethical basis within community radio, committed to providing a space that will foster the creative minds of the next generation. 

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote “Music is the universal language of mankind”. This certainly holds true more than 100 years after Longfellow’s passing. Music is a pillar for human connection. At CKCU FM, we take great joy in seeing music and cultures strengthen connection. It is a beautiful thing to be able to share in something that has forever been seen as the unifier of cultures, groups, and families alike.

– Ethan Arthorne (supported by Simon McKeown)

On Friday, November 1, at 8:00 PM, the Westboro Masonic Hall came alive to celebrate CKCU’s own Anne-Marie Brugger, the 2024 recipient of the Spirit of Tony Turner Award. This annual event, featuring an impressive lineup of local talent, paid tribute to Anne-Marie’s significant contributions to the Ottawa music scene.

As a radio broadcaster, arts reporter, and dedicated community volunteer, Anne-Marie has tirelessly worked to promote local musicians and connect them with audiences. Her journey began nearly 25 years ago at CHUO, where she focused on promoting Canadian new releases and highlighting local artists. Over the years, she has hosted various programs, including the long-running Canadian Spaces on CKCU FM, where she showcases a diverse array of Canadian talent. Notably, she also produced and hosted Hop The Fence, a music interview show that provided emerging artists with a platform to discuss their work and connect with listeners. This program played a crucial role in helping many musicians gain confidence and experience in media.

Anne-Marie has also organized impactful events like the FemmeVox concert series, which celebrates female singer-songwriters and promotes gender equity in the arts.

The Spirit of Tony Turner Award, affectionately known as the SofTTie, recognizes individuals who work behind the scenes to support musicians and improve the broader community. Anne-Marie’s commitment to this mission makes her a truly deserving honoree.

– Marissa Guido

PART ONE: MONDAY’S ENCOUNTER AND ASIAN SOUNDS

As we near the golden 50th anniversary of CKCU FM next year, we want to celebrate familial ties at the station, highlighting the bond between families and community. Over the past month, I had the pleasure and privilege of speaking with four families contributing to CKCU. Boba and Mihajlo from Monday’s Encounter, the Asian Sounds quartet, as well as the Hunter and Walker families. Each of the families offer a unique approach in their broadcasting to CKCU’s audiences, be it through cultural and communal awareness, or by shining light on artists and creative minds that make up Ottawa’s music melting pot and other less mainstream scenes. 

With a lot of ground to cover, this article will be presented in two parts, the first focusing on the shows that are centered around distinct cultural communities. Monday’s Encounter and Asian Sounds dive into the Serbian and the Indian subcontinent communities. The second part of the article, that will follow shortly, will cover the music-driven shows of the Hunter and Walker families.  

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Baljit Nagpal started with radio back in the 80s, where he assisted the host of CKCU’s Indian Morning. After receiving feedback from listeners who requested to play more modern Bollywood songs, he transitioned to his own show. Baljit said that during the 60s-70s when many Indian immigrants arrived to Canada, Bollywood films and its soundtracks were still in their minds. This is how Aap Ki Farmaish was born, which Baljit says means “your choice.” The show has been on CKCU’s airwaves for nearly 42 years.

However, the weekly Tuesday show is also known to connect multiple cultures throughout Ottawa through its selection of world music and guests that Baljit and his team of hosts bring in. The show’s main

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In an era where independent media is increasingly threatened, CKCU is a beacon of authentic, unfiltered community voices. The challenges facing independent media today are extensive and complex. As large media empires continue to grow, smaller stations and networks struggle to survive.

The effect? The voices that have long delivered diverse perspectives, alternative viewpoints, and local stories are gradually disappearing from the airwaves, leaving a gaping hole in the stories of everyday people.

Despite these challenges, radio remains a vital content provider in Canada, with around 70% of Canadians tuning in to one of the over 900 radio stations every week. Radio is especially popular and convenient when travelling, providing a reliable source of talk, music, news, and sports content.

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