CFRC Wins National Local Talent Development Award

Kingston-July 2nd 2025 – CFRC 101.9 FM Radio Queen’s University has won the National Community Radio Association’s Local Talent Development Award for its work supporting local musicians and artists in the Kingston area.

The award was given at the National Community Radio Awards Gala, held June 20^th at Malaspina Theatre in Nanaimo, British Columbia.

CFRC’s achievement came as a result of three major projects that have amplified the voices and talents of local musicians in addition to its decades-long work in promoting weekly concerts and events and an innovative volunteer-driven project to broadcast and film more local and touring musicians to CFRC’s studios.

Among these projects, the 102-year-old radio station launched the Airwave YGK DJ Artists in Residence Program featuring artist-led DJ-skills building workshops, live studio performances and artist interviews.  CFRC’s Airwave YGK Musicians-in-Residence Program was also recognized for providing opportunities to local young and/or emerging musicians to freely use CFRC’s studios & equipment as both a maker and a rehearsal space to create brand new original music and to perform it live on air and YouTube. 

“CFRC is thrilled to provide meaningful, paid opportunities for local DJs and musicians to share their creative excellence to our community from our space and through our channels,” says Dinah Jansen, Executive Director, CFRC 101.9 FM Radio Queen’s University.

“We are grateful to the City of Kingston Arts Fund administered by the Kingston Arts Council for supporting our Airwave YGK projects.”

“Congratulations to CFRC on this much-deserved recognition of their work as community builders and for the local talent development that they have invested in over the years through innovative and creative programming.” says Danika Lochhead, Director, Arts & Culture Services, City of Kingston.

CFRC’s award also recognizes the station’s close collaborative work with the Kingston Music Office in the promotion and distribution of new local artist releases online and over the airwaves through the weekly Release Radar series launched by the KMO in 2024.

“The Kingston Music Office congratulates CFRC on their well-deserved win for the National Local Talent Development Award,” says Moira Demorest, Music Officer, Tourism Kingston.  “As a valued partner, we applaud their continued leadership in amplifying local music and supporting Kingston's vibrant music and arts community.” 

The national award further recognizes CFRC volunteers’ work in the development of the station’s weekly Live Sessions featuring interviews with and performances by local and touring musicians.  This project is led by Aarushi (Rue) Mathur, who also won the national award for Best in Alternative Music programming.  This is the third consecutive year Mathur has taken this award home.

Finally, the Local Talent Development Award also recognizes CFRC’s continued work in promoting local concerts and events through interviews with artists and organizers in addition to the delivery of online and on-air concert and event calendars each week.

“We are so very proud,” says Jansen.  “Thank you to our staff, volunteers and interns whose work made our projects and this significant national recognition possible.  We are also incredibly grateful to the many musicians, artists and facilitators who have joined us at CFRC to bring our community creative learning opportunities, informative and uplifting discussion, and of course, outstanding live, local music.”