We want the airwaves

CKUW 95.9 FM is powered by dedicated volunteer staff

CKUW 95.9 FM, the University of Winnipeg’s campus and community radio station, is the place to volunteer if you adore radio.

“Right from the very beginning we emphasize this is a radio station, but it’s as much a community centre as it is a radio station,” says Victoria King, the station’s volunteer coordinator. 

King says she has a similar style to former coordinator/Peg City Groove co-host Kent Davies, planning workshops and offering new opportunities. She even brought in a member of the local improv comedy troupe Outside Joke to teach improvising on air. 

She says that while CKUW’s vibe is inclusive – it welcomes both men and women and includes volunteers with disabilities – she hopes to continue to improve wherever possible.

Two recent volunteers welcomed to the station are Daniel Emberg (pictured above), 30, and Sam Doucet, 22.

“I knew I wanted to be involved with a community, campus-based station,” says Emberg, who previously worked at CKCU in Ottawa and CJSR in Edmonton. 

“CKUW has been a really positive experience for me so far, really good people, welcoming.”

Emberg’s show Smorgasoundbord airs Wednesdays at 10 pm.

“Each week I pick a different instrument or piece of technology or technique from the sound and music world and try and make it accessible to someone who hasn’t heard of it,” he says.

“I’m trying to pick topics that don’t get much love. One of the most well received shows I did was on eefing… It started as farmers trying to imitate their turkeys and hogs. Some people call it hillbilly beatboxing. I don’t, that’s fair though.”

Doucet also did a show at CJSR and after a few years’ hiatus from hosting a flying by the seat of his pants grindcore program, he’s brought a sense of planning to Blast or Bust. The show, 9 pm on Wednesdays, is Winnipeg’s only show devoted to the extreme music genre.

Doucet says Winnipeg’s grindcore scene is in a grim situation compared to Edmonton’s, with our scene being rather insular. However, he’s quick to name exciting events happening in Winnipeg, such as having Violent Gorge play what he says will be a ridiculous and hilarious acoustic set on his show during CKUW’s annual Fundrive. He is also excited for the Head Hits Concrete show at the Windsor Hotel in February.

Not just a Winnipeg show, Blast or Bust features grindcore from all over the globe. Doucet wants to entice more people to check out grindcore music  

“I’m a compulsive music collector and downloader,” Doucet says. “I push myself to play music from all around the world that even huge grindcore fans haven’t heard of. I try and reach out… Grindcore is for everybody.”

In addition to the dial, CKUW shows are available to stream and download at ckuw.ca. If you want to volunteer at the station, contact Victoria King at 204-786-9998 or by emailing [email protected].

Published in Volume 68, Number 16 of The Uniter (January 15, 2014)

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