City of Ottawa proclaims Nov. 15 as “CKCU 93.1 FM” Day

A picture that says CKCU 93.1 FM Day. Celebrating 50 years

The City of Ottawa has officially proclaimed November 15, 2025 as “CKCU 93.1 FM Day”, recognizing the 50th anniversary of one of Canada’s most enduring independent media organizations.

Founded in 1975 as the country’s first campus-based FM radio station, CKCU has spent five decades serving Ottawa-Gatineau with community-driven news, music and storytelling in more than 10 languages.

“Volunteering at CKCU was one of the first ways I got involved in Ottawa’s broadcast community,” explained Mark Sutcliffe, Mayor, City of Ottawa. “I learned a lot, met incredible people, and felt a real connection to this city.

Fifty years later, CKCU is still giving back to the community, sharing stories, and supporting artists and future broadcasters. Today, we celebrate all that CKCU has done for our community and the role it continues to play in bringing great programming to Ottawa.”

The proclamation recognizes CKCU’s fifty years of service to the city by giving a voice to a wide range of communities, creating some of Canada’s longest-running radio programs, operating radio camps for youth, and supporting the careers of countless artists and future broadcasters. “CKCU 93.1 FM Day” is a time to reflect on what community means across the city and to recognize how local voices, shared stories, and grassroots media strengthen civic life.

“We are deeply honoured to receive this recognition,” said Lia Kiessling, Station Director. “CKCU 93.1 FM Day is more than a celebration of one station. It is a chance to recognize the value of independent media and what it makes possible: connection, participation, and shared understanding. Community media matters because it puts people first and helps build the kind of trust and belonging that every city needs.”

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe is set to deliver the official proclamation shortly after 7 p.m. at CKCU’s Dinner and Celebration on Saturday at Ollie’s Pub and Patio in Carleton University’s Nideyinàn building. The evening will feature speeches, memorabilia, and music.

CKCU’s 50th anniversary celebrations continue through the year, with special programming, public events and community storytelling that honour the station’s legacy and invite people to shape its future.

Support CKCU’s Next 50 Years

CKCU has been a trusted voice in the Ottawa-Gatineau community for five decades — and we’re just getting started. If you believe in the power of local stories, independent media, and community connection, we invite you to support our work.

💛 Make a donation today

Two Fundraisers for CKCU

First Crush presents…Friends of First Crush CKCU Fundraiser!

Dance & donate in support of community radio at this extended Funding Drive event in support of CKCU FM. Featuring DJs Lamb Fatale (First Crush), Pink Veil, Yolande Laroche, Hibo Lagerfeld, Evil Calum and Maia Lou.

November 12 at Ten Toes Coffee & Laundry, 837 Somerset Street West from 5pm-8pm. No cover – donations encouraged!

A CKCU Funding Drive Party CKCU DJ’s!!

Lamb Fatale, Jay Function, Jas Nasty, Chris International and Filburt Shellbach. Rad Bands!! BirdDog + The Retrospects

Proceeds to CKCU’s Funding Drive. See you there!

Final Push! Help Us Hit the Goal and Win Festival Passes + CKCU Merch

A picture of a mouth saying Independent Media Matters

We are close to the finish line, and you can help us get there. CKCU’s 2025 funding drive has been incredible so far, and with your support, we can reach our goal and finish strong.

CKCU is powered by the people. Listener donations keep us independent, volunteer-driven and rooted in Ottawa–Gatineau. Every gift matters. This station belongs to all of us.

Donate $93.10 or more to enter our grand prize draw.

As a thank-you, everyone who donates $93.10 or more will be entered into our grand prize draw. Already donated that amount? You are in. Not quite there yet? You can top up your donation and still qualify.

The grand prize includes:

* Two full passes to either Ottawa Bluesfest, CityFolk or the Ottawa Jazz Festival. First one to enter gets first choice!

* A bundle of CKCU merchandise

It is our way of saying thanks for supporting independent media. These are e-tickets.

Limited giveaways (office pick-up only)

Available while supplies last:
* 10 people will win 1 sticker pack each for donations of $10
* 10 people will win 1 mug each for donations of $20
* 20 people will win 1 toque each (it’s winter!) for donations of $20
Items can be picked up at the station during office hours.

How to donate

Visit CKCU’s Canada Helps Page to make your donation. You can support your favourite show or give directly to CKCU

Let’s finish this drive together and keep independent radio strong.

Last Days of CKCU Funding Drive – Let’s Gooo!

CKCU’s 2025 Funding Drive is on now. Our goal is $193,100.

We’re 85% there!

LET’S KEEP GOING!

When you donate to CKCU, you’re helping keep independent media alive in a time when it’s disappearing across Canada. You’re supporting local music, community voices and stories that reflect real life.

But more than that, you’re helping build something deeper. Local media helps us know our neighbours. And when we know each other, we can trust each other. That’s how we build stronger communities and a stronger democracy.

CKCU has done this work for 50 years. With your help, we’ll keep going. Please give today.

CKCU History @ NAC

To commemorate the upcoming 50th anniversary of CKCU-FM, the National Arts Centre lobby is hosting an amazing collection of artifacts and oddities from five decades of community radio!

Typed scripts, reel-to-reel tape machines and CKCU‘s monthly program publication, Trans FM, have all been replaced by new technologies. Our shows have evolved, our logo has been re-designed, and – thank goodness – the hair styles in the photos of our on-air personalities have also changed!
CKCU‘s past is pretty fascinating, and the future of community radio is built on the foundations established in our first five decades.

Viewing the exhibit, which was compiled and curated by CKCU veteran Michael (tic) Houston, is absolutely free. Get a glimpse into our celebrated past by dropping in to the NAC lobby anytime between now and Wednesday, November 12th.

CKCU’s 2025 Funding Drive is happening!

The CKCU 2025 Funding Drive kicks off today, October 24th, and we’re celebrating our 50th year of broadcasting with a fundraising goal of $193,100!

CKCU is not only a community radio station — we’re a leader and advocate for independent and community media near and far. For 50 years, we have been on the FM airwaves as Canada’s first campus-community station. This history shows the power that we have as a community media organization to last, adapt, and thrive. It has given us vast experience and positioned us a leader and proud community broadcaster.

When you support CKCU, it’s not only about sustaining us as a station. It’s beyond that — it’s about standing with fellow independent media groups in community radio, community TV, and other digital networks and independent platforms to show that independent media matters everywhere.

CKCU is a place for a variety of voices and music, creativity, learning and growth, and community connection. It’s free, accessible, and powered by people.

We would love for you to support CKCU and what we do, and join us in celebrating 50 years of broadcasting and independent media!

Latest Live Off The Floor session

September’s Live Off The Floor session is with rappers dannydukess and HUG MOSH, and their thoughtfully crafted, clever and conscious songs. They took the opportunity to shift their approach to presenting their music in our smaller studio setting.

CKCU-FM Welcomes New Station Director

CKCU Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the arrival of a new Station Director, Lia Kiessling.

Lia holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Carleton University and is a longtime listener and supporter of CKCU FM. After 17 years in Switzerland working in communications, advocacy and membership roles at the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the Internet Society and MSC Cruises, she is back in her hometown of Ottawa to join the CKCU community.

Lia brings decades of experience managing large teams of volunteers and overseeing complex budgets. With a long-standing passion for grassroots media, Lia is thrilled to be returning to a field that aligns so closely with her values.

“Lia also brings extensive fundraising expertise,” says Corrie Rabbe, Chair of the CKCU Board of Trustees. “The Board was especially impressed by her transparent, collaborative leadership style and her clear, inspiring vision for CKCU’s future. We’re confident in her ability to lead the station effectively and to navigate the challenges of today’s rapidly evolving media and economic landscape.”

“I’m thrilled to be joining CKCU — the community radio station I grew up listening to,” said Lia. “For 50 years, CKCU has been at the heart of Ottawa, supporting local people to be active in their community and have a voice in the media. I’m deeply grateful to the Board for their trust and I’m honoured to help carry that legacy forward.”

“It’s been a true privilege to serve as CKCU’s Interim Station Director,” said Anne-Marie, who has been
involved in local community radio for nearly 25 years. “I leave with a full heart and immense pride, having
met — and even exceeded — our fundraising goals in both 2023 and 2024. Together with our incredible staff and devoted volunteers, we reconnected CKCU with the community — from event tables to live broadcasts — and even relaunched the CKCU Kids Summer Radio Camp, a joyful mix of chaos, laughter, and learning. I’m confident that with Lia Kiessling now leading the way, the station is in excellent hands.”

As the leadership torch passes from the Interim Station Director to a permanent one, Corrie Rabbe shared, “On behalf of the CKCU Board, staff, and volunteers, I want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Anne-Marie Brügger, who stepped into the role in 2023, and led the station with outstanding professionalism, dedication, and integrity. Having restored a strong sense of purpose and excitement at CKCU, she leaves the organization on solid financial and operational footing. We are sincerely grateful for her efforts in raising the profile of our community radio station and strengthening its future.”

Seeking Former Volunteers

For nearly 50 years, CKCU has been powered by the energy and commitment of its volunteers.
Were you one of them?

If you’ve ever contributed to our sound, you might be interested to know that CKCU is about to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

CKCU first hit the airwaves on November 15, 1975 (fun facts: the first song broadcast was Joni Mitchell’s “You Turn Me On, I’m A Radio” and the Arts Tower was lit up with a giant “93.1”, signalling the arrival of a new alternative voice for the community).

Planning for a 50th Anniversary Reunion Weekend is already under way. The organizers hope to invite all past and present CKCU volunteers to celebrate together, November 14-16, 2025. But to invite everyone, we first have to find everyone.

If you volunteered at CKCU – ever – and want to learn more about the 50th Anniversary Weekend and other anniversary projects (There will be a book! There will be music!), write to Bruce White at alumni@ckcufm.com. He’ll add you to his email list for updates.

Details and updates on plans for the 50th Anniversary Weekend are here: ckcufm.com/50th-anniversary

Congratulations on your – our – 50th anniversary! We couldn’t have done it without you!

CKCU launches Live Off The Floor

We’re very excited to share a new CKCU FM project we’ve been working on —please welcome Live Off The Floor! This monthly series revolves around connecting with music, music makers, and the music community of the Ottawa area and beyond. Artists are invited to CKCU’s Studio B for an intimate live set that’s filmed in one take. Each month, we will be releasing new sessions of the series on the station’s YouTube channel for you to watch and enjoy. For the launch and first installment, we invited three of Ottawa’s finest DJs to the studio to kick things off with gusto and beats! Don’t miss out—check it out, and give the CKCU channel a follow while you’re there so you don’t miss out on upcoming new Live Off The Floor sessions!