It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Bernard Stepien. Bernard was a long time fixture at the station and in the local jazz scene where he was known for his virtuosic saxophone playing. After taking on Rabble Without A Cause in the 90’s he became part of the Sweetman / Émond / Stepien axis of Jazz on CKCU, which reigned for decades. Beyond his life in music he was a researcher and software engineer at the University of Ottawa contributing to that body of knowledge with several publications.

Local funeral services and commemorative jam sessions will be delayed until Ottawa is out of the COVID red-zone. At that time we’ll let everyone know how best to pay their respects. CKCU has been running a range of produced carts and best-of shows commemorating his work at the station over the next while, and will be making a gift to the family. He is survived by his son Thomas Stepien, who also broadcasted on CKCU as the well known DJ Teknobrat. Please keep his family in your thoughts.

Here is a link to two programs that Ron Steeds produced to commemorate Bernard:
https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/94/51383.html
https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/95/51385.html

Here is a link to an article by Peter Hum in the Ottawa Citizen:
https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/jazzblog/remembering-ottawas-bernard-stepien-renaissance-man-computer-scientist-jazz-saxophonist-and-broadcaster

Welcome to The Place of Sound: a show that explores the meaning of some of the everyday spaces and places that surround us, both here in the city of Ottawa and elsewhere. Debuts this Monday at 6:30PM (Feb 22nd)….

In a time when many of the spaces we inhabit are digital, we’re going to pause and reflect on how important physical space still is in our everyday lives. We’ll do so by listening to the work of students in Carleton University’s Communication and Media Studies program. We’ll listen to conversations they’ve had with others on the topic of home, and other projects such as soundscape compositions, which communicate one’s personal relationship with a particular place.

So on the one hand we’re using sound to understand the role of place in our lives and the many meanings that it holds, but on the other, we’re placing sound by using the skill of listening to explore the everyday spaces we inhabit.

So if you’re interested in hearing stories that will make you reflect on what places might mean and who you are in them, tune in to CKCU radio every second Monday at 6:30pm, listen On Demand: https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/597/info.html  and/or visit the website at theplaceofsound.ca.

We’re pleased to announce that we have partnered with local business, Bushah Luxury Coffee & Tea Company.

This partnership was made possible by our devoted volunteer and host of Friday Drive, Trevor Walker.

The concept is simple. For every bag of coffee sold, CKCU FM will receive $2 dollars. This will go a long way in keeping the Mighty 9.31 on the air while also supporting a great local business.

To support CKCU FM while purchasing your coffee, enter the promo code “FRIDAYDRIVE” and voila! We’d like to thank Bushah Luxury Coffee & Tea Company as well as Trevor Walker of Friday Drive for making this partnership a reality!

 

Exactly 45 years ago at the stroke of midnight on Nov. 15th 1975, CKCU-FM began broadcasting as Canada’s first CRTC licensed campus/community radio station at 93.1FM, and the first song played was “You Turn Me On, I’m a Radio” by Joni Mitchell.

From the initial vision, passion and hard work of CKCU’s founders, the Mighty 93 has been a crucial part of the Ottawa/Gatineau region providing independent programming for four and half decades. Over these last 45 years, CKCU has worked to support music, arts, culture, current affairs and countless other communities. CKCU’s commitment to this will surely continue. 

CKCU owes a huge debt of gratitude to everyone who has walked the hall to our studios. An extra special thanks of recognition to Janis Lockwood. Janis lead many a CKCU birthday celebration over the years, announcing while popping the cork on a bottle of champagne. Janis’ involvement with CKCU going back decades cannot be overstated. Thank you Janis for your passion, dedication and belief in CKCU.  

As we move towards our 50th year as a broadcaster in 2025, CKCU will continue to grow with our communities and expand the support we strive to give independent voices. The support you provide us as listeners and donors keeps us alive and moves us forward. Huge thank you to everyone for helping us get here.  Let’s share a toast to CKCU getting to 45 years, and to the decades yet to come.

This Saturday Nov 7th at noon, during the final week of Funding Drive, “The Back 40” will celebrate its 30th year on CKCU. Co-founded in 1990 by program hosts Bill Grant, Dave deJongh and Doug Torrance, the show was conceived as one that would feature several dimensions of country music, including “old-tyme/hillbilly” (Bill Grant), Nashville – Grand Old Opry stars (Doug Torrance), and bluegrass music (Dave deJongh).

Having taken over the reins in 1993, Ron Moores has continued to host the show. While continuing the root traditions of “Back 40”, Ron has focused on interviews with local and area musicians and with bluegrass artists throughout North America. In addition, Ron has forged close ties with country and bluegrass festival organizers and with the Ottawa Valley Bluegrass Association that continues to serve the bluegrass community  throughout the Ottawa Valley. Ron is also 5 x winner of the Central Canada Bluegrass Association’s “DJ of the Year Award” and an inductee into its Hall of Honour.

Featured on Saturday’s broadcast will be music and interviews with two of the three founders of the Back 40 (who are Dave deJongh and Doug Torrance, both of whom were program hosts at CKCU; Bill Grant passed away in 1993), along with listeners and with the Treasurer of both the Ottawa Valley Bluegrass Music Association and the South Grenville Bluegrass Festival, who is David Porter.

https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/130/info.html

This Sunday night, October 25th at 8 o’clock,  Rotting Renny resurrects “Rots & Rhythms”, a spooky spectacular Halloween Funding Drive special with sonic tricks & treats, followed next week by the semi-legendary “Smut For Bucks“ Funding Drive show on Sunday night November 1st. Something scary for  a coronavirus free Halloween & then something that’s almost obscene. Roots & Rhythms, thrilling you since 1997!

https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/93/info.html

Canadian Spaces on CKCU FM is Canada’s longest-running folk music radio show.  Founded in 1980 by the late A.L. (“Chopper”) McKinnon, the show celebrates its 40th anniversary with an exciting live broadcast on multiple audio and video platforms this Saturday, September 26 from 10 to noon Eastern.  The two-hour Canadian Spaces anniversary celebration will feature a total of 40 guests who will chat and perform in one of eight 15-minute time slots.

Chris White will co-host this special edition of Canadian Spaces along with Carolyn Sutherland, former Artistic Director of the Stewart Park Folk Festival and Shelter Valley Folk Festival.  A singer-songwriter, community animator and Ottawa Folk Festival co-founder, Chris took on the hosting role after Chopper passed away in March, 2013.
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Sept 16th, 2020

CKCU is pleased to announce that after a rigorous selection process it has hired accomplished policy maker, researcher, musician, and cultural leader Mr. Kwende Kefentse, as its inaugural Executive Director. Mr. Kefentse will manage all aspects of CKCU with a mandate for transformational growth including working with CKCU’s Board of Directors to develop and execute a new strategic vision for the organization, as well as responsibility for day to day operations at the station.

“We are thrilled to introduce Mr. Kwende Kefentse as our new Executive Director,” said Chris Ikonomopoulos, Chair of the Board of CKCU. “His track record of success in government, along with his deep breadth of expertise and relationships across the arts, music, broadcast, community, and academic sectors will be a great asset to the station and the communities we serve.”

Mr. Kefentse has a B.A. from Carleton University’s Directed Interdisciplinary Studies program, and a Masters of Research from UCL’s Bartlett School of Architecture where he innovated new methods for quantifying the spatial structure of cultural and creative industries in cities. His major achievements as Cultural Industries Development Officer and Music Lead at the City of Ottawa included being the driving force behind the development of the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition and leading the successful development, council approval, and execution of the Ottawa Music Strategy (2018-2020). Prior to that he co-led the development of the council-approved Renewed Action Plan for Arts, Heritage and Culture (2012-2018). As co-founder of the alternative club-night institution TIMEKODE, he has led and inspired thousands to explore new sounds on the dance floor over 15 years. In 2019, Mr. Kefentse was appointed to the Board of Directors of FACTOR as the inaugural Diversity and Inclusion observer, and Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board. He also sits on the Advisory Board of the Carleton University Art Gallery, and the Washington D.C. based Music Policy Forum.

“I’m honoured to be leading CKCU as its first ever Executive Director,” said Mr. Kwende Kefentse. “The unprecedented moment we’re in has recentered the role of broadcast media in our lives. Over the past 45 years, through grassroots grit and with community support CKCU established itself as a meaningful portal of discovery into the region for anyone interested in digging a little deeper. For communities and musicians outside of the mainstream it represents an important independent local platform to connect, make their voices heard, and make their presence felt here. This legacy of music, community, connectivity, discovery, independence, and championing alternative perspectives will be central to the way we reimagine Ottawa-Gatineau’s future media landscape and CKCU’s role in it. We plan to be making space for new voices and sounds in this community for another 45 years and beyond.”

Mr. Kefentse will begin his new role as of September 23rd, 2020.

Media Inquiries:
comms@ckcufm.com

https://www.ckcufm.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Sept-16-Release-2b-1.pdf

The FemmeVox concert series continues with a live streamed Concert from Irene’s Pub Sunday September 6th.

Featuring Amanda Rheaume with Larissa Desrosiers, NAMBI and Ambre McLean who will be performing individually and lending accompaniment to one another.  ​​Streamed live on the GCTC Facebook page among others on Sunday September 6th, 2020 at 4PM, from Irene’s Pub. Access to the stream is free, donating is encouraged.

Femmevox With Amanda  Rheaume, Larissa Desrosiers, NAMBI and Ambre McLean, don’t miss it!

Brought to you in part by CKCU 93.1 FM.