“Up to the last week of his life, (McKinnon) always said that this was the best two hours of his week,” White said, reminiscing on his tenure as McKinnon’s co-host from 2011 to 2013.
In the late afternoon under golden-yellow light, all six co-hosts of Canadian Spaces spread around a table at Irene’s Pub. Chris White, the main host of the program since 2013, said he couldn’t recall the last time everyone was together.
For this occasion, the collective — as they self proclaim — were overjoyed to share memories and laugh over stories about the late Chopper McKinnon and his time as host of Canadian Spaces.
Canadian Spaces topped the list for the most donated to funding drive program in 2024 — an achievement White said the show has had the privilege of having many, many times.
White said that McKinnon always took the funding drive super seriously and would get “bugged” when other host’s didn’t.
“He also got pretty shirty with the listeners if they didn’t donate too,” White added, with the collective nodding in agreement.
The collective laughed at the fact that McKinnon would play music the community enjoyed all year round and then would withhold it during the funding drive until listeners called in to donate.
White said McKinnon would also play Bob Snider’s song “Darn Folksinger” which has a line that sings, “Only thing a darn folksinger ever wanna make is money.”
But more than just that, McKinnon put in a lot of effort and made the funding drive a big deal and a big part of his life. The collective said McKinnon would get musicians to come into the studios and play a few songs, helping them plug their next gig and get their music to the people.
White said that McKinnon really fostered a vibrant community which still thrives to this day, and always emphasized the community aspect of the station’s programming.
“Sounds like six bucks,” White said, again, laughing with the collective.
The collective coined the saying as a “Chopperism” — something that would have been blurted out over the air waves many times some decades back.
“So people started adding $6 and you can see it in the donations. You’ll see $56 or $81 or $106. It’s a fun little thing — just a nod to (McKinnon),” White said.
White and the rest of the collective continue to walk the path McKinnon paved when he first joined CKCU, and said they all put their utmost effort during each funding drive.
Canadian Spaces airs weekly on Saturday’s from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and consists of Chris White, Anne-Marie Brugger, Carolyn Sutherland, Teresa Bandrowska, and Ray Harris.
By Simon McKeown