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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