Baljit Nagpal adjusts his microphone in CKCU’s closed circuit studio on Jan. 7. Photo by Simon McKeown
Sitting in a soundproofed studio at CKCU, Baljit Nagpal compares how he hosts his radio program, Aap Ki Farmaish, to being a chef in an Indian restaurant.
“Everybody cooks butter chicken, okay?” Nagpal said smiling.
But, he continued, if you like a particular place’s butter chicken recipe, you will go back to that location every time. In this regard, Nagpal said he’s a chef — but, for music programming.
Aap Ki Farmaish is structured around weekly themes that Nagpal’s community has come to expect. Often, Nagpal tries to blend new and old music to keep his listeners both happy and open to contemporary tracks.
This year, Aap Ki Farmaish — which translates to ‘your request’ — made its way into the top five most donated to funding drive shows at CKCU.
Nagpal said he begins raising money a month before the official funding drive start date by shooting off a hundred emails. In the emails, Nagpal said he includes personalized messages to the recipient — a gesture he said has given him credibility among his community.
For the past 10 to 15 years, Nagpal said this technique has worked best and lets him stay ahead of the frantic two week funding drive hustle. These pre-pledges give CKCU thousands of dollars before the phone rooms even open and other programs start to advertise the drive.
As the drive launches, these pre-pledges ease the burden and amount of work Nagpal has to do over the air waves.
Recently however, Nagpal said it has become harder to secure a stable listenership due to the rise in on-demand programs and streaming services. He noted that people nowadays don’t have the time to listen live since they have other, more “important activities” to attend to.
Despite this, Nagpal boasts happily that he has listeners from all over the world which grow his already strong following.
Aap Ki Farmaish airs weekly on Tuesday’s from 7 to 9 p.m. and consists of Baljit Nagpal, Anupama Potdar, and Prashant Maharishi.
The Canadian Spaces collective gathered at Irene’s Pub to talk about the late Chopper McKinnon and funding drive on Jan. 9. Left to right, back row: Ray, Teresa, and Chris. Left to right, front row: Anne-Marie and Carolyn. Photo by Simon McKeown
“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.
Mehdi Fallahi was full of passion when he decided to premiere Namaashoum — Ottawa’s first ever fully Farsi show — some 20 odd years ago. As an activist, he said the support was overwhelming despite his first few productions being “dry and awkward.”
Since then, he’s grown and has expanded the program into a collective with 30 diverse members (some even Carleton professors) who air educational programs and intriguing interviews.
In 2024, Namaashoum cracked into the top five most donated to funding drive shows at CKCU — an achievement Fallahi said was due in part to his steadfast activism.
“People know me as someone who is serving the community,” Fallahi said, adding that Namaashoum is often the medium for his activism.
The philosophy behind the program, Fallahi said, is to help spur change. He said he wants people to think critically about the contents of the show and further their knowledge for the better.
“I believe that my show should bring people from point A to point B at the end, even if point A and B are very close to each other,” he said.
During the funding drive, Fallahi said he takes his activism a step further and physically connects with people. In this way, Fallahi said he builds a stronger sense of community — something he’s already deeply committed to.
“So when I go to them asking for help, they respond to me, especially when I explain the nature of CKCU and how it works.”
With about 12 active co-hosts of Namaashoum, Fallahi said they all involve themselves and help with the funding drive. But, he said he’s still the main “driver” of the program.
“If for whatever reason I cannot continue and produce the show tomorrow, there is not one single person who can grab the torch and continue,” he said.
Fallahi said he puts on average 20 to 30 hours a week into Namaashoum and treats it like a second full-time job.
He does this because he said he believes that radio is still the most powerful broadcasting tool. For most Canadians, it’s accessible anywhere and everywhere and provides news, entertainment, sports, and much more.
For this reason, Fallahi tries to pack as much high quality Farsi content like interviews and educational segments rather than just airing music — his unique and personal preference.
Namaashoum airs weekly on Monday’s from 7 to 9 p.m. and consists mainly of Mehdi Fallahi.
CKCU-FM is a volunteer-driven community-oriented radio station in Ottawa, Ontario that recently celebrated its 49th anniversary of broadcasting. We are seeking an experienced Station Director to oversee the daily operations of our radio station.
This position reports to the Board of Directors and is responsible for the management and administration of the station.
To learn more about the position and how to apply, select ‘continue reading’…
As CKCU 93.1 FM enters its 50th year of broadcasting, we are reaching out to our incredible community for help. This milestone is a celebration of the station’s legacy, but it also marks a critical time in ensuring its continued growth and success.
We are seeking new board members, particularly someone with financial expertise to step into the role of Treasurer.
As a volunteer-driven community radio station, CKCU relies on passionate, dedicated individuals like YOU to keep the wheels turning. This is your chance to make a meaningful impact on the future of an organization that has been the voice of our community for decades. Whether you have experience in finance, governance, or just a passion for keeping community radio alive, we need strong, committed, and diverse people to join our Board.
Chris White spins Joni Mitchell. Photo credit: Erik Stolpmann
On Thursday, November 14, CKCU 93.1 FM marked a major milestone—marking the start of its 50th Year of broadcasting! The station kicked off its golden anniversary with a special two-hour live broadcast starting at 11:59 pm.
After a countdown to midnight, CKCU played its very first song ever broadcast: Joni Mitchell’s You Turn Me On, I’m A Radio—and, in true CKCU fashion, it was played on vinyl. The airwaves were then filled with cheers, reminiscing, and heartfelt reflections from alumni, staff, and current hosts who have been part of the station’s journey.
A major highlight of the night was the live performance by Central Station, marking the first live music broadcast in CKCU’s 50th year. Alongside the performance, listeners heard from a diverse group of people who have been pivotal in shaping the station.
If you missed the live broadcast—or just want to relive the magic—you can listen to a recording of the entire 50th anniversary special on our website. It’s a truly special way to experience the heart and soul of CKCU, from its early days to the vibrant station it is today.
PART TWO: THE HUNTER/ARGIROPULOS-HUNTER AND WALKER FAMILIES
As the 50th anniversary of CKCU FM is around the corner, we want to celebrate familial ties at the station, highlighting the bond between families and community. Over the past while, I had the pleasure and privilege of speaking with four families contributing to CKCU. In part one of this article, we featured Boba and Mihajlo from Monday’s Encounter, the Asian Sounds quartet. Now, in part two of the article, we will dive into getting to know the Hunter/Argiropulos-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.
Dylan Hunter has been a longstanding member of CKCU FM, with just shy of 30 years of experience under his belt running his show —aptly named after its eponymous host —The Dylan Hunter Show. His daughter, Zoë Argiropulos-Hunter, began her journey at CKCU as a co-host with her friend Owen Maxwell, sowing the seeds for what would become her current show First Crush.
Young Zoë and young dad, Dylan.
Having both parties involved at the station has strengthened an already special relationship between the father and daughter duo. “It’s great to be able to connect with and share something”, said Dylan. Her father’s mammoth collection of music and records, alongside her experience with CKCU’s Radio Camp for kids (as an attendee and later in life a staff), were a big part of how Zoë became interested and involved at the station.
Zoë stressed the importance of being ready and open to hearing new music and uses First Crush to play selections that are overshadowed by mainstream radio. “Songs have a strong power to teach and to inform” she added. In contrast to more mainstream channels, community radio plays a central part in community building, which allows listeners to meet with and discover other musicians in the scene. Zoë uses her show to metaphorically ‘pass the mic’ to those who wish to make their voices heard. Dylan leans into playing a large mix of music that reaches far beyond the mainstream into smaller and more obscure record labels and artists.
While both father and daughter use their respective platforms to share the music they love with other people, the main goal for both hosts is to entertain their audiences. The dedication that Dylan and Zoë put into hosting their distinct programs at CKCU has provided them with a sense of purpose focused on community building and uplifting voices within community radio and lesser-known artists.
Trevor Walker, like Dylan, has been with CKCU since the 90s, and is currently the host of Friday Drive. Trevor encouraged his father to jump on the airwaves with him and speak about issues concerning social justice circa 2010, all the while his father, Gordon Walker continued to stand behind Trevor’s work at the station and passion for delivering soul, jazz, funk, and afrobeat music.
Three generations of Walkers have contributed to the station, including Trevor’s 19- and 23-year-old daughters who have occasionally co-hosted alongside him. Importantly, Trevor wants the family connections to both Gordon and his shows to be natural and uncoerced, rather than roping them into something that they might not be too keen on pursuing. While his daughters’ interest in radio might not be the strongest now, there is always the possibility that it will blossom later down the road.
Father and son, Gordon and Trevor Walker.
Gordon’s collection of music from classical, to folk, to music he discovered on the radio while posted in Ghana with the Canadian International Development Agency, was a large influence on his son’s personal music taste. All the music Trevor was exposed to influences what he plays on Friday Drive.
Trevor and Gordon Walkers’ hard work and dedication to presenting quality radio programming has sown the seeds for the family to voice the 93.1 FM airwaves. And while the three generations of Walkers find themselves interested in different aspects of culture and music at times, the family maintains a grounded and ethical basis within community radio, committed to providing a space that will foster the creative minds of the next generation.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote “Music is the universal language of mankind”. This certainly holds true more than 100 years after Longfellow’s passing. Music is a pillar for human connection. At CKCU FM, we take great joy in seeing music and cultures strengthen connection. It is a beautiful thing to be able to share in something that has forever been seen as the unifier of cultures, groups, and families alike.
On Friday, November 1, at 8:00 PM, the Westboro Masonic Hall came alive to celebrate CKCU’s own Anne-Marie Brugger, the 2024 recipient of the Spirit of Tony Turner Award. This annual event, featuring an impressive lineup of local talent, paid tribute to Anne-Marie’s significant contributions to the Ottawa music scene.
Anne-Marie Brugger at CKCU FM
As a radio broadcaster, arts reporter, and dedicated community volunteer, Anne-Marie has tirelessly worked to promote local musicians and connect them with audiences. Her journey began nearly 25 years ago at CHUO, where she focused on promoting Canadian new releases and highlighting local artists. Over the years, she has hosted various programs, including the long-running Canadian Spaces on CKCU FM, where she showcases a diverse array of Canadian talent. Notably, she also produced and hosted Hop The Fence, a music interview show that provided emerging artists with a platform to discuss their work and connect with listeners. This program played a crucial role in helping many musicians gain confidence and experience in media.
Anne-Marie has also organized impactful events like the FemmeVox concert series, which celebrates female singer-songwriters and promotes gender equity in the arts.
The Spirit of Tony Turner Award, affectionately known as the SofTTie, recognizes individuals who work behind the scenes to support musicians and improve the broader community. Anne-Marie’s commitment to this mission makes her a truly deserving honoree.
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.
