Tucked away in the basement of Carruthers Hall is a museum of musical artifacts and the hub of a creative and vibrant community in Kingston.
Driven by volunteers, CFRC is the not-for-profit campus community radio station at Queen’s University. Broadcasting since 1922, it’s one of the longest-running stations in the world, and is committed to amplifying local news, artists, and events overlooked by mainstream corporate stations.
CFRC extends support to student groups, departments, and nonprofit organizations by providing free PSAs about their services and resources.
In an interview with The Journal, CFRC’s Technical Production Manager, Chancelor Maracle, spoke about their involvement and what they believe makes the station special.
From a young age, Maracle was unimpressed by Top 40 radio, preferring to flip through their father’s diverse array of CD binders to discover new music, giving them an early appreciation for variety. When Maracle moved to Kingston and joined CFRC as a recurring talk show host with their friends, they became fascinated by the radio station ecosystem.
“You’re not going to get better variety than campus or community stations. It’s people in your community who are trying to share with you their interests and what they enjoy,” said CFRC’s Maracle, in an interview with The Journal.
The station’s headquarters is home to approximately 60,000 physical albums and is equipped with state-of-the-art recording software, along with a live broadcasting studio.
While radio stations have been called a dying breed with the rise of streaming services, Maracle is adamant CFRC holds a distinct advantage over Spotify, Apple Music, or Soundcloud.
“It’s a lot of algorithms that are made to impress you every single time, but sometimes it’s nice to listen to something that might have been a diamond in the rough or something that’s not curated specifically for your taste… something that might open you up to new tastes,” Maracle said.
“It kind of becomes refreshing to become limited in your choices and let someone else kind of take control.”
Collaborating closely with Executive Director Dinah Jansen, News Reporter Christena Lawrie and Program Coordinator Jesse Bell, the team at CFRC fosters an inclusive and inviting atmosphere at the station, encouraging volunteers to showcase the music they love, even if they’re uncertain about its universal appeal.
To highlight the tapestry of broadcasting shows on CFRC, The Journal spoke to the hosts of some of the station’s most captivating programs.
“Sports Rundown”
The host of “Sports Rundown” and CFRC’s Sports Manager Zayden Vergara, ArtSci ’25, airs his spoken word podcasts every Monday at 5:30 p.m. He works to expand the team of sports reporters and create more opportunities for students to try reporting and broadcasting.
His talent for interviewing shines through in each episode, a skill that earned him recognition as a finalist in the 2023 International Student Broadcast Championship’s Best Play-by-Play category. Vergara engages with various student and local athletes, offering comprehensive game recaps and insightful analysis, making him a trusted source of sports knowledge.
During the fall season, Vergara joined CFRC’s Program Director Jesse Bell at Richardson Stadium, providing commentary for the Queen’s Football games.
“It’s completely different when you’re watching a game and you don’t know much about the players besides their name, or a last name and a number. The moment I start doing those interviews, you see more personality in the way they play, which adds an extra layer to things,” Vergara told The Journal.
“Yellow Brit Road”
Another award-winning broadcast is “Yellow Brit Road,” hosted by Rue Mathur, Comp ’24, airing on Sundays at 8 p.m.
Mathur is a seasoned veteran at the station. She joined CFRC in 2019 and stayed involved through remote programming during the pandemic and her internship year in Ottawa. Mathur has watched student involvement and excitement grow bigger each year.
She recalls stumbling across CFRC’s booth at the annual September Sidewalk Sale after transferring to Queen’s, prompting her curiosity about the station.
“I just started running into people and talking to them and finding out what kind of music they liked, and I just sort of accidentally ended up on a bunch of people’s shows,” Mathur said.
In addition to “Yellow Brit Road,” Mathur’s voice can be heard on Thursday’s broadcast of “Indie Wakeup Call,” a CFRC staple that features five alternating hosts for each day of the week.
After seeing some student bands at a live performance this summer, Mathur approached the artists asking if she could promote their music on the indie morning show. She invited them to come into the station and record a live performance for CFRC.
“Between Friends”
Madison Taylor, ArtSci ’25, and co-host Sofia Mancinix, ArtSci ’25, shine on their music broadcast “Between Friends,” which features new and old indie pop and rock favorites followed by conversation every Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Taylor helps guests break out of their shells and encourages a diverse array of music sharing. Similarly to Mathur, Taylor discovered CFRC as a bridge to connect with fellow students whichoffered her a sense of community in her new surroundings.
“It’s kind of hard to integrate into the Queen’s community because everyone has their sort of groups and cliques from first year, but everyone at CFRC has been so lovely and so welcoming,” Taylor said.
“Audio Buffet”
“Audio Buffet” hosts Brin Perez, Sci ’25, Devan Macdonald, Sci ’24, and Becca Yan, Sci ’24, invite listeners to join their musical breakfast table every Wednesday at 7 a.m.
Each week the hosts play a variety of fresh tracks unheard by the others, ranking the music by declaring if their plate is empty or if they’re hungry for more. The show’s witty banter and infectious energy allows listeners to feel like active participants in the lively discussion and music exploration process.
“It’s a great way to express our creativity and have our voices be heard without too much pressure and a lot of freedom. It’s such a fun time just hanging out in the studio and listening to music with my friends. Definitely my favorite part of the week,” Macdonald said in an interview with The Journal.
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