# CKUA Radio Network > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/CKUA_Radio_Network > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/CKUA_Radio_Network.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CKUA_Radio_Network > Source revision: 1354683506 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Canadian community radio station in Alberta}} {{Use Canadian English|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox radio station | logo = CKUA logo with tagline.svg | logo_size = 150px | name = CKUA | airdate = November 21, 1927 | frequency = See transmitters | city = [Alberta](/source/Alberta) | country = CA | format = Community radio | owner = CKUA Radio Foundation | power = see chart | branding = CKUA Radio | class = see chart | former_frequencies = 580 [kHz](/source/Hertz) | website = [http://www.ckua.com/ ckua.com] | callsign_meaning = University of Alberta }} '''CKUA Radio''' is a Canadian donor-funded [community radio](/source/community_radio) station based in [Edmonton](/source/Edmonton), [Alberta](/source/Alberta). Originally located on the campus of the [University of Alberta](/source/University_of_Alberta) in Edmonton (hence the UA of the call letters), it was the first public broadcaster in Canada when it began broadcasting in 1927. It now broadcasts from studios in [downtown Edmonton](/source/downtown_Edmonton), and as of fall 2016 has added a studio in [Calgary](/source/Calgary)'s [National Music Centre](/source/National_Music_Centre). CKUA's primary station is '''CKUA-FM''', located on 94.9 [FM](/source/FM_broadcasting) in Edmonton, and the station operates fifteen [rebroadcasters](/source/Broadcast_relay_station) to serve the remainder of the province. As of February 28, 2021, CKUA is the 13th-most-listened-to radio station in the Edmonton market according to a PPM data report released by [Numeris](/source/Numeris).{{Cite web |url=https://www.radiowest.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=37458 |title=Winter 2021 PPM Data |access-date=2021-04-17 }} ==History== [[File:CKUA Announcers.jpg|left|thumb|CKUA announcers in 1931. Source: [University of Alberta Archives, UAA-1969-010-037](/source/iarchive%3AUAA-1969-010-037)]] [[File:C.K.U.A. Radio station.jpg|left|thumb|CKUA on Calgary Trail in Edmonton, October 1941. Source: University of Alberta Archives, [UAA-1972-058-1755](/source/iarchive%3AUAA-1972-058-1755)]] CKUA was founded on November 21, 1927[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/473940910/ "Mercy - Arden collects half a dozen ARIAs"]. ''Edmonton Journal'', Edmonton, Alberta, May 30, 1994, p. 12{{Cite book|last=Walters|first=Marylu|url=https://archive.org/details/ckuaradioworthfi00walt|title=CKUA : radio worth fighting for|publisher=University of Alberta Press|year=2002|isbn=0-88864-395-0|location=Edmonton|pages=307–328|oclc=50403279}} through a provincial grant which allowed the University of Alberta's Extension Department to purchase the licence of CFCK, which had been on the air since 1922, sharing a frequency with [CJCA](/source/CJCA). CKUA was also the first radio station to offer educational radio programming, including music concerts, poetry readings, and university lectures. From 1930 to 1931 the station was an affiliate of the [CNR Radio](/source/CNR_Radio) network.{{Cite web |url=http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listings_and_histories/radio/histories.php?id=125&historyID=56 |title=CKUA History from the Canadian Communications Foundation |access-date=2007-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930203647/http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listings_and_histories/radio/histories.php?id=125&historyID=56 |archive-date=2007-09-30 |url-status=dead }} From 1945 to 1974 CKUA was operated by [Alberta Government Telephones](/source/Alberta_Government_Telephones).[http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listings_and_histories/radio/listings.php?pt=130&r=59#CKUA-AM CKUA History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061010135950/http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listings_and_histories/radio/listings.php?pt=130&r=59#CKUA-AM |date=2006-10-10 }}, Canadian Communications Foundation The [crown corporation](/source/crown_corporation), [Alberta Educational Communications Corporation](/source/Access_(TV_channel)) (later known as Access), assumed ownership of the station in 1974. In 1994, Access sold the CKUA network to the non-profit CKUA Radio Foundation for $10.{{Cite web |url=http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listings_and_histories/radio/histories.php?id=1009&historyID=57 |title=CKUA-FM history, Canadian Communications Foundation |access-date=2007-04-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930201728/http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listings_and_histories/radio/histories.php?id=1009&historyID=57 |archive-date=2007-09-30 |url-status=dead }} The same year the station won an Alberta Recording Industry Award of Excellence. On March 20, 1997, the station went off the air for five weeks due to political squabbles, poor financial management, and attempts at privatization.{{cite book|first=Geo|last=Takach|title=Will the Real Alberta Please Stand Up?|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IJSnAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA252|date=1 December 2010|publisher=University of Alberta|isbn=978-0-88864-772-6|page=252}} The station restarted broadcasting on April 25, 1997, after control was given to the public from directors appointed by the provincial government. As of 2005, more than two-thirds of the station's funding came from its listeners in the form of donations. In April 2024, CKUA announced that it needed to raise $3 million in donations by September 30, 2024, to avoid closure. Despite rising audience numbers and steady revenue, the station cited factors including the [recent inflation surge](/source/2021%E2%80%932023_inflation_surge), limited government funding, and the vacancy and devaluation of the Alberta Hotel building, which it owns and rents out, for its financial struggles.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-17 |title='Perfect storm': CKUA must raise $3M by end of September to stay open |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/article/perfect-storm-ckua-must-raise-3m-by-end-of-september-to-stay-open/ |access-date=2024-04-24 |website=CTV News Edmonton |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Patterson |first=Kelsey |date=2024-04-17 |title=Alberta CKUA Radio trying to raise $3 million |url=https://edmonton.citynews.ca/2024/04/17/alberta-ckua-radio-fundraising-inflation/ |access-date=2024-04-24 |website=CityNews Edmonton}}{{Cite news |last=Frew |first=Nicholas |date=2024-04-21 |title=Canada's 1st public broadcaster needs $3M before October to stay on the air |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/ckua-radio-alberta-funding-donations-1.7180150 |access-date=2024-04-24 |work=CBC News}} In December 2025, the federal government, through [PrairiesCan](/source/PrairiesCan), awarded a $10.9 million grant to CKUA, which will be used to modernize its studio at the Alberta Hotel, expand its performance space, and invest in preservation of its archives.{{Cite news |last=Antoneshyn |first=Alex |date=December 17, 2025 |title=CKUA receives ‘life-changing’ $11M in federal funding |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/article/ckua-receives-life-changing-11m-in-federal-funding/ |access-date=December 19, 2025 |work=[CTV News](/source/CTV_News)}}{{Cite web |last=Thiessen |first=Connie |date=2025-12-17 |title=Edmonton's CKUA radio receives $10.9M federal investment |url=https://broadcastdialogue.com/edmontons-ckua-radio-receives-10-9m-federal-investment/ |access-date=2026-01-07 |website=Broadcast Dialogue |language=en-US}} ==Cultural impact== The station's practice of supporting local, independent, and non-commercial artists has helped launch the careers of musicians such as [k.d. lang](/source/k.d._lang), [Jann Arden](/source/Jann_Arden), and [Bruce Cockburn](/source/Bruce_Cockburn). In addition, CKUA has contributed to the careers of [Arthur Hiller](/source/Arthur_Hiller), [Robert Goulet](/source/Robert_Goulet), and [Tommy Banks](/source/Tommy_Banks_(musician)), among others. Throughout the 1930s an early [radio drama](/source/radio_drama) series, ''CKUA Players'', was produced out of the station and broadcast throughout [Western Canada](/source/Western_Canada) by a network of stations.[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/english-language-radio-drama/ Radio Drama, English Language], ''Canadian Encyclopedia'', accessed January 23, 2008 ==Programming== CKUA schedules different programs throughout the week and thus can offer many different genres including [blues](/source/blues), [bluegrass](/source/bluegrass_music), [R&B](/source/R%26B), [Celtic](/source/Celtic_Mmsic), [country](/source/country_music), [classical](/source/classical_music), [jazz](/source/jazz), [reggae](/source/reggae), [folk](/source/folk_music), [hip hop](/source/hip_hop_music), [dance](/source/dance_music), [funk](/source/funk), [rock](/source/rock_music), roots, and [world](/source/world_music). ==Historic music archive== CKUA's music library boasts one of the largest and most diverse music collections in Canada, with more than 250,000 [CD](/source/Compact_disc)s and [LP](/source/Vinyl_record)s, including 10,000 [78 rpm](/source/Gramophone_record) records, as well as a few [aluminium transcription discs](/source/aluminum_disc), [45s](/source/Vinyl_record), and other various media formats. ==Broadcast locations== thumb|CKUA billboard on its original Alberta Block building headquarters CKUA was headquartered in the Alberta Block building on [Jasper Avenue](/source/Jasper_Avenue) in Edmonton starting in 1955. In October 2012, CKUA moved into its current location in the Alberta Hotel building, with its first broadcast from the new location on October 15, 2012.[http://globalnews.ca/news/294611/ckua-radio-celebrates-new-home-with-ceremonial-record-delivery/ "CKUA Radio celebrates new home with ceremonial record delivery"]. By Caley Ramsay ''Global News'', October 6, 2012 ==Broadcasting issues== The station's original transmitter was located at 580 [kHz](/source/Hertz) in Edmonton. It operated at 10,000 watts. Due to its location near the bottom of the AM dial, as well as its transmitter power, it was powerful enough to cover nearly all of Alberta's densely populated area. It added an FM simulcast on June 28, 1948.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal-ckua-opens-new-studios/126402412/|date=June 28, 1948|page=7|title=CKUA Opens New Studios: New F.M. Station Promises Improved Service In Radio|newspaper=Edmonton Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 14, 2023}} Starting in the 1970s, CKUA built a network of 16 [FM](/source/FM_broadcasting) repeaters across Alberta. CKUA also broadcasts in western Canada on select cable and satellite providers (such as [SaskTel](/source/SaskTel), who carries CKUA across Saskatchewan as a [Lloydminster](/source/Lloydminster) station). As of February 29, 1996, CKUA became the first radio station in Canada to [stream](/source/Internet_radio) their broadcast online, and now has upgraded the service to carry an unlimited number of streams. The station currently{{As of when|date=April 2024}} has more than 250,000 weekly listeners. Because of CKUA's extensive coverage, the station was one of only a handful of broadcasters (another being [CTV Two Alberta](/source/CTV_Two_Alberta), formerly Access) to carry the Alberta [Emergency Public Warning System](/source/Emergency_Public_Warning_System). The provincial government-funded programme provided the station with 12% of its annual income until the contract was lost to an Ottawa firm, Black Coral Inc., in January 2010.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/contract-loss-forces-job-cuts-at-ckua-1.974606 |title=Contract loss forces job cuts at CKUA |date= January 12, 2010|work=www.cbc.ca |access-date= May 20, 2010}} CKUA announced plans to shut down its legacy 580 AM signal, the longest continuously-used AM frequency in Canada, in the spring of 2013. It would have needed to invest as much as $5 million to upgrade the transmitter site to modern standards, an amount it could not afford.[http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listings_and_histories/radio/listings.php?pt=130&r=59&ac=&former=y#CKUA-AM CKUA-AM history] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226191002/http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listings_and_histories/radio/listings.php?pt=130&r=59&ac=&former=y#CKUA-AM |date=2014-02-26 }} at [Canadian Communications Foundation](/source/Canadian_Communications_Foundation) However, CKUA did not receive formal approval from the CRTC until September 12, 2013.[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2013/2013-483.htm Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2013-483], CKUA-FM Edmonton – Deletion of an AM transmitter, ''CRTC'', September 12, 2013 AM 580 went off the air on November 21, 2013, the station's 86th anniversary.[https://m.soundcloud.com/ckuaradio/ckua-says-goodbye-to-580-am CKUA says goodbye to 580 AM by CKUA Radio Network], ''soundcloud.com'', November 21, 2013 ==Current on-air personalities== The CKUA program lineup relies on a number of on-air personalities. {{Columns-list|colwidth=20em| * Mark Antonelli * Aaron Au * Dilbagh Singh Bhangoo ("Baba") * Allison Brock * Bob Chelmick * Priscilla Cherry * Lark Clark * Kerry Clarke * Tom Coxworth * Leo Cripps * Tony Dillon-Davis * David Dodge * Andy Donnelly * Dianne Donovan * [Roy Forbes](/source/Roy_Forbes) * Shayne Giles * Brian Golightly * Joe Hartfeil * Cam Hayden * Kodi Hutchinson * Tony King * [Terry David Mulligan](/source/Terry_David_Mulligan) * [Holger Petersen](/source/Holger_Petersen_(Canadian_businessman)) * Keri Rak * Lionel Rault * Erin Ross * [Orest Soltykevych](/source/Orest_Soltykevych) * [Leeroy Stagger](/source/Leeroy_Stagger) * Kate Stevens * Grant Stovel * Marek Tyler * [Amy van Keeken](/source/Amy_van_Keeken) * Darcy Whiteside * Lisa Wilton * Oskar Zybart *Spencer Streichert * Mark Rodgers }} ==Previous on-air personalities== {{Columns-list|colwidth=20em| * Chris Allen * [Tommy Banks](/source/Tommy_Banks_(musician)) * Don Bell * Don Berner * Wayne Bezanson * [Celeigh Cardinal](/source/Celeigh_Cardinal) * Dan Cherwoniak * Garth Collins * Bill Coull * Marylou Creechan * Cheryl Croucher * Brian Dunsmore * Ron Durda * Ken Davis * Cathy Ennis * [Gil Evans](/source/Gil_Evans) * Steve Fisher * [Fil Fraser](/source/Fil_Fraser) * Laura Fraser * [Bryan Fustukian](/source/Bryan_Fustukian) * [Robert Goulet](/source/Robert_Goulet) * David Gregory * [Bryan Hall](/source/Bryan_Hall_(sportscaster)) * Derina Harvey * Sarah Hoyles * Jacqueline Janelle * Herb Johnson * Ed Kilpatrick * Craig Korth * Roger Levesque * Mairi Maclean * Chris Martin * Matt Masters * Monica Miller * Richard Moses * Hayley Muir * Carol Ann Murray * [David Myles](/source/David_Myles_(musician)) (2018–2022){{Cite web |title=David Myles: Multi-tasker keeps making music an adventure | Living | the Chronicle Herald |url=https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/living/david-myles-multi-tasker-keeps-making-music-an-adventure-245350/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114225358/https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/living/david-myles-multi-tasker-keeps-making-music-an-adventure-245350/ |archive-date=2018-11-14 |access-date=2018-11-14}}{{Cite web |last=Friesen |first=Shaun |date=2022-08-30 |title=Best Wishes to David Myles!- Read |url=https://ckua.com/read/best-wishes-to-david-myles/ |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=CKUA |language=en-US}} * Peter North * Lee Onisko * Darrell Podlubny * Prosper Prodaniuk * [Jan Randall](/source/Jan_Randall) * Lisa Robinson * John Rutherford * John Runge * Sev Sabourin * [Horst Schmid](/source/Horst_Schmid) * Andrew Smith * Kelly Thomas * Crystal Tracey * Scott Turner * Jason Valleau * George Vaitkunas * Marc Vasey * David Ward * Meg Wilcox * Kevin Wilson * John Worthington }} ==Transmitters== {|class="wikitable sortable" ![City of licence](/source/City_of_licence) !Frequency !Callsign ![CRTC](/source/Canadian_Radio-television_and_Telecommunications_Commission) Decision |- |[Athabasca](/source/Athabasca%2C_Alberta) |0098.3 [FM](/source/FM_radio) |CKUA-FM-10 | |- |[Banff](/source/Banff%2C_Alberta)/[Canmore](/source/Canmore%2C_Alberta) |0104.3 FM |CKUA-FM-14 |[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/1986/DB86-1098.htm 86-1098] |- |[Calgary](/source/Calgary) |0093.7 FM |CKUA-FM-1 | |- |[Drumheller](/source/Drumheller)/[Hanna](/source/Hanna%2C_Alberta) |0091.3 FM |CKUA-FM-13 | |- |[Edmonton](/source/Edmonton) |0094.9 FM |CKUA-FM '''''(flagship)''''' | |- |[Edson](/source/Edson%2C_Alberta) |0103.7 FM |CKUA-FM-8 | |- |[Fort McMurray](/source/Fort_McMurray) |0096.7 FM |CKUA-FM-11 | |- |[Grande Prairie](/source/Grande_Prairie) |0100.9 FM |CKUA-FM-4 | |- |[Hinton](/source/Hinton%2C_Alberta) |0102.5 FM |CKUA-FM-7 | |- |[Lethbridge](/source/Lethbridge) |0099.3 FM |CKUA-FM-2 | |- |[Lloydminster](/source/Lloydminster) |0097.5 FM |CKUA-FM-15 | |- |[Medicine Hat](/source/Medicine_Hat) |0097.3 FM |CKUA-FM-3 | |- |[Peace River](/source/Peace_River%2C_Alberta) |0096.9 FM |CKUA-FM-5 | |- |[Red Deer](/source/Red_Deer%2C_Alberta) |0107.7 FM |CKUA-FM-6 |[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2007/db2007-25.htm 2007-25] |- |[Spirit River](/source/Spirit_River%2C_Alberta) |0099.5 FM |CKUA-FM-12 | |- |[Whitecourt](/source/Whitecourt) |0107.1 FM |CKUA-FM-9 | |} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links and references== {{Commonscat|CKUA Radio}} *[http://www.ckua.com/ CKUA Radio website], with live broadcast streaming *[https://broadcasting-history.ca/radio/radio-stations/alberta/alberta-north/ckua-fm/ CKUA History] from the [Canadian Communications Foundation](/source/Canadian_Communications_Foundation) *[https://broadcasting-history.ca/radio/radio-stations/alberta/alberta-north/ckua-am/ "CFCK" later became "CKUA" - History from the Canadian Communications Foundation] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110706210308/http://www.uap.ualberta.ca/UAP.asp?LID=41&bookID=484 ''CKUA: Radio Worth Fighting For'', by Marylu Walters; University of Alberta Press] *[http://www.ckua.com/transmitter-map Broadcast Frequency List] [http://www.ckua.com/transmitter-map] *[https://www.ualberta.ca/ALUMNI/history/affiliate/78winCKUA.htm CKUA: Fifty years of growth for the university's own station by Jean Kirkman] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051230/http://www.ualberta.ca/ALUMNI/history/affiliate/78winCKUA.htm |date=2016-03-04 }} *{{RecnetCanada|CKUA}} * {{discogs artist|CKUA}} {{Calgary Radio}} {{Edmonton Radio}} {{Red Deer Radio}} {{Public broadcasting in Canada}} {{Authority control}} Kua Kua Category:Community radio in Canada Category:1927 establishments in Alberta Category:Radio stations established in 1927 Category:Culture of Alberta Category:Educational broadcasting in Canada Category:University of Alberta Category:CNR Radio --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [CKUA Radio Network](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CKUA_Radio_Network) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CKUA_Radio_Network?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.