Recording radio show a broadcasting delight

Opinion

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This article was published 16/02/2021 (1693 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Joan Hreno made one of her longtime dreams a reality at the age of 50 when she started her own radio show.

“I’ve always loved radio,” says Hreno, who hosts Sunnyroad on CKUW 95.9 FM. “I figured hey, if not now, when?”

It was January 2010 when Hreno started volunteering at the station. She launched Sunnyroad that August. Airing every Friday at 10 a.m., the show focuses on roots music, with a special emphasis on local artists.

“I’ve always been so excited to find new music and then tell people about it,” the 61-year-old says. “The show allows me to let other people know about what I’ve discovered.”

When the pandemic hit, Hreno learned to use recording software on her computer so she could record the show in her Fort Richmond home.

Prior to that, Hreno broadcast the show live at the station, which is located on campus at the University of Winnipeg.

“I miss the ritual of actually going to the studio, but this has been very fun as well.”

Hreno feels lucky and privileged to do the show.

“I’m really happy to be a part of the community in this way. I enjoy the whole process of creating the show — choosing the music and sometimes having a theme, and (having) guests on to share their ideas.”

Radio is appealing to Hreno because it’s an accessible medium. She appreciates the values that CKUW is built on. It is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization that does not air paid advertising.

The station prides itself on being people-driven, not profit-driven, and it has the freedom and the mandate to present music and ideas that cannot be found in the mass media.

“To empower regular people with a voice significantly enriches our culture,” Hreno says.

One of the ways CKUW pays the bills is with Fundrive, an annual campaign that raises 25 per cent of the station’s budget.

This year’s Fundrive is on now. The station is hoping to raise $60,000 from 1,000 listeners before the fundraiser ends on Friday.

Hreno was reluctant about fundraising at first, but in the past 11 years, she’s grown to appreciate it.

“I sometimes use the word magical — I do feel that way about it,” she says. “Fundrive has just been a revelation in that it’s really wonderful to see how many people want to support us. There’s a symbiotic relationship between the station and its audience.”

“The fact that this station has gone on for so long, and has run really very smoothly, is really amazing,” Hreno adds. “It’s a wonderful effort by many, many people, and all the listeners as well. It’s a very great joint community effort.”

Ugonna Chigbo, volunteer co-ordinator at CKUW, is thankful for the station’s approximately 120 volunteers.

“Volunteers are very crucial and that’s because they provide very unique programming,” he says. “Volunteers create that avenue whereby artists and other marginalized voices can come on the radio and engage the listeners.”

Hreno, who has served with a variety of community organizations throughout her life — including Klinic Community Health and the Winnipeg Folk Festival — believes volunteering makes life interesting.

“It makes the world around you a better place,” she says. “Ideally, depending on what kind of volunteer work it is, I think it promotes empathy. That’s a great thing.”

Anyone interested in contributing to this year’s Fundrive can call 204-774-6877; send an e-transfer to fundrive@ckuw.ca; or make a pledge online at ckuw.ca/donate.

If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron.epp@gmail.com.