Aap Ki Farmaish connects multi-cultural communities through CKCU’s airwaves

Baljit live in the CKCU FM studio

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 goal is to cater to the audience, as he puts it.

“I try to play what the audience likes, and [that is what] people appreciate,” Baljit said.

Baljit says that the listenership of his program has expanded over the years and continues to try to do more outreach for South Asian communities in Ottawa who don’t know about it. To do this, he invites prominent figures in Ottawa, such as members of parliament, and local, international artists and community leaders to interview on the show. He even had the chance to interview Mayor Mark Sutcliffe during his candidacy run. According to Baljit, the show’s main goal is to provide the best music for listeners to enjoy, as well as information that will be helpful.

The program has also connected with members from Ottawa’s West Indian and Caribbean communities, and is looking to also feature those from Aboriginal communities.

To continue increasing Aap Ki Farmaish’s listenership, Baljit says the key is the variety of music and voices that represent it. Through the power of music, Aap Ki Farmaish aims to blend these different cultural communities together and inform them of what they need to know in the capital city.

“Music brings us pleasure and releases our suffering.
It can calm us down and pump us up.
It helps us manage pain, sleep better and be more productive.” 
– Alex Doman (Author of Healing at the Speed of Sound)

– Audrey Pridham

FM SIGNAL….

From NOW until Nov. 29, 2024, CBC will be installing a new master FM antenna on the tower at Camp Fortune. These upgrades to the transmission infrastructure are necessary and long overdue. The work will unfortunately result in some signal strength reductions and service interruptions to all FM and television stations broadcasting from the site, including CKCU.  

The CBC has been communicating with staff at CKCU and has assured us that precautions are being taken to limit the frequency and duration of interruptions to our signal. If there is a disruption to the FM signal, you can continue to listen to us online at ckcufm.com. 

Independent Voices Under Threat: Why CKCU Matters Now More Than Ever

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. While other forms of media consumption continue to rise, radio still holds an important place in the lives of most Canadians, making the preservation of independent voices on the airwaves even more critical.

Locked in to the mighty 93.1.

The statistics paint a grim picture. Over the past decade, countless local radio stations and independent media outlets have closed their doors, unable to compete with the financial might of corporate-owned networks. Canada’s radio industry is dominated by five large ownership groups, which generate about 65% of the industry’s revenue and capture a significant share of listeners. Staff layoffs have become all too common, with even long-standing institutions like the CBC and Global News facing significant cutbacks. According to the Canadian Media Concentration Research Project, more than 250 media outlets in Canada have shut down since 2008, leaving many communities without a local voice. This loss of local media not only diminishes the diversity of content available but also erodes the connection between communities and the stories that matter most to them.

At CKCU, we recognize the importance of keeping those independent perspectives alive. Since our creation, we’ve been committed to providing a platform for voices that might otherwise go unheard. Whether it’s featuring local artists, covering grassroots movements, or giving air time to underrepresented communities, CKCU ensures that our programming reflects the rich diversity of our community. Our station has always been more than just a place to listen to music or catch up on the news, it’s a hub for community engagement, a space where ideas are exchanged, and where everyone is welcome to share their story.

In contrast to the increasingly uniform content seen in many mainstream outlets, CKCU continues to prioritize the unique and the local. CKCU remains committed to keeping the airwaves vibrant and inclusive. However, maintaining this independence is no easy task. As a community-funded station, CKCU relies heavily on the generosity of donors to keep our programming on air. This support allows us to continue offering a platform for diverse voices and focuses on the community. With your help, we can continue to provide the kind of independent, community-focused programming that is becoming increasingly rare in today’s media landscape.

As we approach our annual funding drive, we ask you to consider the vital role that CKCU plays in our community and your life. In a world where independent media is under siege, your support is more important than ever. Together, we can ensure that CKCU remains a stronghold for independent voices, keeping our airwaves free, diverse, and vibrant.

– Marissa Guido

The David Dalle Show celebrates 30 years with CKCU

David Dalle was introduced to CKCU FM by his father who would regularly tune in. They both had a strong fondness for music. David’s interest led him to become a Carleton University Music program student, and since he was on the campus, he decided to volunteer with the station. He soon began hosting music programming for overnight programs, and in 1994 he moved on to producing and hosting his own live program, The David Dalle Show, that airs every Thursday afternoon at 2:00 pm. His love of classical music quickly expanded to experimental, industrial tunes, which then led him down a rabbit hole of discovering and spinning tracks from around the world.

David Dalle in the on-air studio during his show.

“Music is infinite – it’s endless, there’s so much of it. So that’s why I’ve been doing it for 30 years, but I feel like I’ve barely touched the surface of music,” he said. After being on the air for 30 years, Dalle says that discovering the wide range of music he plays on his program allows him to learn more about the major difficulties and history of the state of the world. “I want to be a great champion of multiculturalism. In music, you can see that people are the same everywhere, basically at heart, and they express so many of the same things in music but it’s using different means, instruments, and music theory.”

The David Dalle Show is one of the longest running ones at CKCU, and he admits that throughout his time as a radio host, he has grown and learnt a lot since he first started as a university student. “I’m glad that my programming from 25 years ago was not preserved because I’d be embarrassed about it now,” he joked.

Aside from sharing his love of multicultural music with his listeners, Dalle also has a passion for sheep herding with his Old English sheepdogs. He talked about how his first dog went on to compete in the Agility Association of Canada’s Nationals in 2016 and won 5th place. “My life is music and dogs right now!”

Dalle is still eager to discover more music and share it on CKCU’s airwaves. His show’s main theme of “unity in diversity” through the music he shares is what connects him with his listeners. “I found that in [the past] 30 years, the world seems to be going into kind of a darker path… I want to counter that as much as possible.”

– Audrey Pridham

Braving the night with Interzone’s Mimsey Demon: A 10th anniversary celebration

Night owls rejoice! Luke Kuchar, known by his moniker Mimsey Demon, celebrates the 10th anniversary of his show Interzone on CKCU FM this August. Bringing the latest in electronic, industrial, drum and bass, the local and underground scene, Luke provides the soundtrack for those braving the temptations of Nyx and Morpheus.

Luke’s background in radio can be found in the mid-90s. With growing interest in the industrial scene, he volunteered at CHUO FM in Ottawa, helping with shows and working on his own called Wednesday Night Hangover. Subsequently, this led him to branch out into other avenues and musical genres like sidetrance, electronic, experimental, and hardcore. Mimsey Demon’s show, Interzone, saw its inception when he was offered an overnight slot at CKCU FM by Dave Aardvark, the Program Director; and ten years later, Luke continues to share his passion for music with the city of Ottawa.

Strong connections and friendships that were forged early on in his time at CKCU have kept him going for the past decade. While an overnight show has sparse in-person contact, some members of the CKCU community like the hosts of Heat Wave and Jump Into Sports, frequently ran into Luke before and after doing his program when it was live in-studio from 2:00 am – 6:00 am pre-pandemic. Nowadays, Luke records his vocal segments before he goes live from his apartment, and oftentimes, he is joined by the angry-feathered co-host who rooms with him – his bird.

Luke Kuchar, AKA Mimsey Demon, DJing live. Courtesy of CBC News.

“Music has been one of the only positive constants in my life, and I want to share it with others who are also helped by it”, says Luke. Interzone fills the demand for electronic music, heavily emphasizing the local scene and events happening in Ottawa. The host has fine-tuned his program to cover the underrepresented genres such as drum and bass, dubstep, trance music, and more.

Over the years, Luke has felt the love of the community from all walks of life. From late night truckers calling in to thank him for keeping them going through long drives, to other night owls who dance the late hours away, Luke spreads awareness about local artists and provides the soundtrack for those who need an outlet to express themselves. Before the butcher, baker, and candlestick-maker begin their day, find CKCU’s friendly neighborhood Mimsey Demon working his magic on the airwaves.

-Ethan Arthorne

Celebrating 45 years of The Groove

In CKCU FM’s vibrant history, Elorious Cain appears as a beacon of community and musical passion, revolutionizing Ottawa’s radio scene with his love for Disco music. Every Saturday from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, for the past 45 years Elorious has infused joy and rhythm into the CKCU community with The Groove, Canada’s longest-running disco show.

Elorious Cain with his record collection

Over the years, The Groove has become a beloved show reflecting CKCU’s vibrant energy. His first interaction with CKCU started with a submission of poetry to Sacred and Profane, a show where listeners submitted work to be read live on air. After multiple submissions not being chosen, he grew frustrated, leading him to contact the station to inquire about it. This led to a meeting with then-program director, Jim Hurcomb. In a conversation between the two, Elorious shared his opinion on the station’s on-air programming. Agreeing that CKCU was lacking disco, Hurcomb offered Elorious a timeslot to do a prerecorded disco program. He gladly accepted. On July 7, 1979, Disco Radio took to the airways. In 1981, Elorious transitioned to live broadcasting. He renamed the show The Groove in 1982, establishing the well-loved show we know today.

The Groove is more than a radio show, it’s a celebration and exploration of disco. Developing a strong listenership over the past four and a half decades, it has drawn fans in thanks to Elorious’ deep love and passion for the music he presents. On special occasions, once a decade, “The Real History of Disco” marathon has been hosted for 18 hours straight, exploring and showcasing disco’s rich history up to the present day.

As the host, Elorious’ dream for The Groove is to keep it bumping for many years to come, allowing him to continue to share his passion for disco music and its ever-evolving scene with all who care to join his party. He attributes the show’s longevity to not only his passion for the disco scene but also CKCU’s support, giving him creative freedom to create the content he wants. He cherishes the opportunity to share disco’s vibrancy and create a space where listeners can connect and revel in the joy of the music. The Groove reminds us that music, like community, thrives on love and dedication. It infuses positivity into the community and invites us all to dance along.

– Marissa Guido

Wednesday Special Blend Airs 1000th Show

Michael Houston, AKA Tic

Michael Houston, better known as “tic”, has been in the community radio realm with CKCU FM for a whopping 35 years. His show, Wednesday Special Blend, is celebrating a major milestone with its 1000th episode on March 13th, 2024. The morning radio program, hosted by tic, started in April 2002, but his involvement at CKCU FM began much before. In 1983, he stumbled across a documentary produced by a CKCU volunteer and it was love at first listen according to the host.  Two weeks later, tic was a volunteer on his journey to become part of the CKCU FM family. The rest is history, as 22 years later, he is reaching his 1000th episode! 

When it comes to contributing to CKCU and the community, tic leads by example. He has a big heart and likes to share about what people in the community are doing, their stories, local music, events, and the odd opinion.  He has been instrumental in supporting the annual CKCU FM Funding Drive and contributing to community connection.  As well, he is a technically savvy guy who offers support to others with his skills. He’s been an integral part of the CKCU, working hard to make sure Wednesday Special Blend is engaging, entertaining, and informative for the audience. 

Michael absolutely loves being on the radio, but he is especially interested and attentive to the technical side of creating his content. He takes pride in making sure his shows are quality sounding and run smoothly for the listener’s experience. After being live in the studio for many years, since the pandemic, tic prefers to record his shows in his cozy home studio. It allows him to focus on the technical quality by reducing any potential challenges that could happen during a live broadcast. He believes that good sound and production are important and add to listening enjoyment.  

CKCU FM is far more than just a community radio station to tic. He shared that part of its value is its diversity. The station broadcasts in at least a dozen languages and features special interest programming that you won’t find many other places. It’s a friendly place where people can learn about different cultures, music, and community news. As tic says, “Sometimes you just need to mix things up and try something new!”. That is exactly what CKCU FM offers and is a key reason why he loves being part of it. 

– Joy Keke

Celebrating Vintage Love’s 20th Anniversary

Love, whether shared, found, grieved, or lost, surrounds us through the melodies of love songs. Vintage Love beautifully displays this essence with its blend of Reggae and Caribbean-centric tunes, offering a tranquil space of positive vibes. Its calming ambiance invites all to unwind, feel hopeful, and embrace the warmth of love’s lasting spirit.

O’shea in the CKCU FM on-air studio

O’shea Adagio brings us this sanctuary every Saturday night from 10:00 PM to 12:00 AM on CKCU FM, and has for the past 20 years. Always having a fascination with music, his mother was a classically trained pianist so his childhood was defined with music. Moving from St. Catharines to Toronto, to Ottawa for school, O’shea attended Carleton for Law and Sociology. While he was attending, he volunteered for CKCU for a short period. Although it didn’t stick, after graduation, with encouragement from his family and friends, O’shea made a demo and pitched Vintage Love to CKCU FM. It was an immediate hit. The show has been loved ever since reaching highs such as winning the Best Reggae Radio Program for Canada’s “Caribbean Music & Entertainment Awards”.

Over the past 20 years, O’shea has built up a community that eagerly awaits his show and it brings him immense joy to provide this. He says “The world has so many unhappy and crazy things going on that it is important to take a break and think of the people you love and the good things in life that helps you get through the unfavourable times”. He aims that his show provides this space to reflect and relax. O’shea and Vintage Love remind us that love and goodness is all around and sometimes we just need a second to see it.

– Marissa Guido

Celebrating 10 Years of ‘Night Trax’ with Michael Guyton

Professor Mike, a.k.a. Michael Guyton

He was allotted an overnight slot from 2 a.m. to 7 a.m., with the show officially launching on January 20, 2014. But his achievements don’t stop there: competing in bocce, basketball and bowling, Mike is a Special Olympics athlete, with two gold medals and one silver medal under his belt.

Radio broadcasting particularly enthused Michael – or more aptly, Professor Mike, as he is known on air – as he longed to incorporate music of the past, into the modern musical landscape. He focuses on an eclectic range of tracks and timeless hits recorded between the years of 1970 and 1989, using his own batch of LPs and 45s.

In order to satiate every listener’s musical appetite, Mike dabbles into different genres like rock, disco, R&B etc. “Night Trax” stands out as a revitalisation of late night live radio – employing a human voice to foster interactivity and fuel a connection that transcends airwaves.

Mike is like CKCU’s very own radio companion – ensuring that anyone who listens in is part of a community. While Guyton is both an athlete and radio host, he is above all an inspiring individual, who continues to champion positivity and inclusion through “Night Trax”.

– Lynn Robchinsky

University radio stations in Ottawa face funding challenges 

Lynn Saxberg – Published Oct 30, 2023 / Photo by Jean Levac

Both CKCU at Carleton and CHUO at University of Ottawa have long histories in Ottawa. 

CKCU-FM, the community radio station that broadcasts from the campus of Carleton University, kicked off its annual funding drive on Friday amid challenging conditions for college radio in Ottawa. 

At the same time the station dubbed The Mighty 93 (for its 93.1 FM frequency) is redoubling efforts to fund-raise after three difficult years, the folks at CHUO-FM, the station broadcasting from the University of Ottawa at 89.1 FM, are scrambling to figure out options following a referendum in which students voted to defund the station. (More about that in a moment.) 

Adding to both stations’ struggle is the social-media blackout on Canadian media outlets put in place by Meta to protest the federal government’s Online News Act, Bill C-18, which would require tech giants to pay for news links. To Meta, independent radio stations like CKCU and CHUO are considered media outlets. 

“Bill C-18 has been detrimental to community radio across the country because Meta is blocking our ability to promote any of our independent content, whether programs or events, including our funding drive,” said Anne-Marie Brugger, a longtime Ottawa community-radio volunteer recently hired as CKCU’s interim executive director. She is filling in for Kwende Kefentse, who became the station’s first executive director in 2020 and is on parental leave until next spring. 

“We have to come up with different ways of getting the word out on social media because we cannot use our Instagram or Facebook,” Brugger said. “Those accounts are pretty much paralyzed.” 

CKCU has set a goal of raising $165,000 in this year’s drive, which runs until Nov. 12. Two-thirds of the station’s funding comes from a student levy, while the annual funding drive is designed to provide the rest. “Our funding drive is vital this year and the goal will be really important to accomplish,” Brugger said. 

One of the problems for the station while trying to raise money during the pandemic was the fact hosts had to pre-record programs, which made it impossible to engage listeners on the spot, challenge them to donate and then immediately react with thanks when donations came in. As Brugger said, “Live radio is way more fun than recording your programs in advance.” 

Her first move when she arrived at the station in September was to re-open the office on the fifth floor of Nideyinàn, formerly known as the Unicentre, and encourage staff and volunteers to return. “I’m in the office every day,” she said. “Staff are coming in and volunteers are coming back. Things are picking up.” 

 With folks back in the office, listeners can again dial and donate or make pledges online. There are daily prizes for donations of $75 or more. Several fund-raising events are also planned. …. read the full article here