Fifteen years ago, Arianne Smith-Piquette started at CKUA as a music library volunteer.
Today, she is CKUA’s Content Director, the driving force behind CKUA’s programming, music direction, outreach coverage, and on-air talent. She manages a team of 45.
“I’m also the first person people call when something goes wrong,” she laughs.
Her early days volunteering had her deep in the CKUA library, in the old building.
“I was in heaven,” says Smith-Piquette. “The library is such a treasure trove of musical discoveries.”
Her first major project included organizing reel-to-reel tapes and 78s in the basement of the old building.
Smith-Piquette created a plan with three options and presented it to Brian Dunsmore, then Content Director.
“I booked time with Brian to present and ask for his guidance. I was very nervous and taking this very seriously. At the end I asked Brian what his preference would be, and he looked at me with a twinkle in his eye and said ‘Kiddo, it’s radio. No one is going to die.’”
Today, the music library is fully organized and digitized.
Smith-Piquette also managed the enormous project of relocating the entire library when CKUA moved east down Jasper Avenue to the Alberta Hotel in 2012.
Digitizing the library was not yet complete. Smith-Piquette, in the midst of moving an entire library, was also working with the announcers to make sure they had the music they needed.
“So there I was trucking 25-count CD boxes packed up in IKEA bags, up and down Jasper Ave.,” she laughs. “It was a couple months of back and forth, walking up and down Jasper Ave. with my bags.”
Smith-Piquette became CKUA’s Music Library Technician in 2011 and took on the Interim Content Director role in 2023, accepting the permanent role less than a year after that.
Fifteen years has brought many CKUA personalities into Smith-Piquette’s life.
“There are so, so many people here that have been so kind and provided guidance and mentorship,” she says.
Two announcers, the late Monica Miller, and Cam Hayden, have been especially impactful.
“Monica was greatly influential from the very start,” she says. “She always took an extra step to ensure that people had what they needed, often before they knew they needed it. She was also wickedly funny and had an incredibly deep and expansive taste in music.”
Hayden, who hosts Friday Night Blues Party, has been a steady presence in Smith-Piquette’s CKUA life.
“Cam Hayden has been a valuable mentor throughout my time at CKUA. We share the understanding that CKUA is bigger than all of us individually, and we are stewarding it along for the future.”
Fifteen years also means endless memories. “There are so many but most of them are focused around the people,” she says.
“We create fresh programming for roughly 18 hours of the day so there’s a never-ending list of tasks to work on. At the end of the day, though, I’m very privileged to get to work with a great group of people, and work on something beautiful that highlights art.”
It’s not always easy.
“When something goes wrong, there’s a very slim chance it’s not immediately noticeable to everyone listening,” she says.
She’s faced everything from the wrong audio playing to getting a phone call at 6am to be told a fill-in host was not, in fact, in the booth for Alberta Morning (though that only happened once.)
Even amidst the challenges, “There is nothing like the feeling of live radio when everything goes smoothly,” she says.
The best part?
“Being able to create magic moments,” she says.
Some of her recent favourites include the “super secret” April Fools’ Day project a couple of months back.
“From convincing hosts to switcharoo their shifts for the day, to workshopping the fake show promos, to absolutely howling with laughter every time Kate Stevens straight-faced introduced herself as Grant Stovel for three hours, to reading all the texts from listeners that came in throughout the day … This can be a hard job, but there’s a lot of opportunity to bring joy to listeners.”
Working with the rest of the CKUA team is also uniquely special, according to Smith-Piquette.
“The people who are here really do care about each other. We’re pretty lucky to have the best jobs in the world,” she says.
After 15 years with CKUA, Smith-Piquette is grateful to be where she is.
“I’m very lucky to be in a position where I can help craft a show, event, or idea that delights and surprises.”
And it’s not a role she takes lightly.
“The long history of CKUA means we honour where we came from while stewarding things forward.”
Thanks for all you do, Arianne!
Thoughts from the CKUA crew:
Allison Brock, Host of Wide Cut Country:
“I want you to know how much you mean to us, I think you are doing an absolutely fantastic job. We appreciate all the effort you constantly put in. You are just knocking it out of the park. Rock on, girl, rock on.”
Amy van Keeken, Host of Twilight, Far Out, and This Just In:
“I want to say a giant cheers to Arianne Smith-Piquette and 15 years at CKUA. You rule, you slay, you’re the best. I love you so much. You’re a constant inspiration. Thank you for completely ruling the school, all the time.”
Bronson Kashino, Associate Producer:
“Congratulations Arianne! Beyond the way you put everybody else ahead of yourself – because you truly care about all the people around you – and your inexhaustible work ethic, the thing I think is most special about you is the way you believe in people. Before I met you I wasn’t sure that radio was the right place for me and after last summer, now I know it is. It’s not an overstatement to say you genuinely changed my life. You’re an incredible person and leader and friend and I’m looking forward to 15 more years.”
Cam Hayden, Host of Friday Night Blues Party:
“Happy CKUA anniversary Arianne! It’s been a real pleasure and an eye-opening experience to work with you since 2011.
You’ve always been on the ball, open, funny, and just a little bit strange but in a really good way. I try not to be needy but when the unexpected happens and it always does (this is radio after all,) you’ve been the first person I turn to regardless of the issue and there you are, with a solution, an alternate idea, or a handy piece of hardware.
Thanks for you and especially thanks for being part of CKUA. We’d all be wishing there was an Arianne here if you weren’t.”
Grant Stovel, Host of Alberta Morning:
“I can’t even really begin to describe the sheer impact of Arianne on my life other than to say that moment by moment she has made it richer and greater and better for myself, my family and those in my life.”
Karen Howell, Events and Volunteer Coordinator:
“Ever since I have known Arianne, she’s been the first to jump in to help. She’s curious, smart, and funny. She also happens to be an incredible plant whisperer, and I think that talent extends to how she nurtures and encourages people as well, so that thanks to her, we can all thrive.
Congratulations on an absolutely stellar career at CKUA and all the things you’ve done to make CKUA and the musical community such a fantastic place to dwell in.”
Lisa Wilton, Host of Traffic Jams:
“Thank you so much for your hard work, thank you for your support of me, you’ve just been great to work with.
“I’m always impressed at how Arianne keeps her sharp sense of humour intact, even when she has so much on her plate, or when she has to problem solve.
She’s not only a supportive boss, but also one of the most fun people to hang out with.”
Ken Regan, former CEO of CKUA:
“Congratulations, Arianne! I’ve known Arianne since she started at CKUA. She just brings so much talent to everything she does and she’s good at everything she takes on. She is a remarkable, intelligent young woman and CKUA is really lucky to have her.”
Lark Clark, Host of World Spinning:
“Arianne, thank you for the care and consideration you put into your actions. Thanks for your kindness and for helping us with our work. You are creating something significant for CKUA.”
Roy Forbes, Host of Roy’s Record Room:
“I can’t believe it, 15 years since you came to CKUA! It has been such a pleasure working with you in the last 15 years in various capacities. I am sending a big pile of love here in North Vancouver. I think Arianne Smith-Piquette is the tops.”
Scott Zielsdorf, Associate Producer:
“Without Arianne, I don’t think I’d be where I am today. If it wasn’t for her believing in me and taking a chance on me, I wouldn’t be here doing this work right now. I really appreciate you and everything that you’ve done.”
Shaun Friesen, Communications and Marketing Manager:
“Wishing you a happy 15th anniversary with CKUA, Arianne. That is phenomenal! I appreciate the innovation and the passion that you bring to this organization, as well as the willingness to take risks. I think taking risks is necessary for a 100-year old organization to stay culturally relevant. I appreciate that you are doing that daily, weekly, monthly, yearly and that you continue to do so. Thank you.”
Thomas Tunski, Events and Volunteers Coordinator:
“Happy anniversary, Arianne! It’s just nice to work with someone who’s so real, who’s all about doing cool stuff and getting cool stuff done. And she’s also willing to laugh when things go crazy. It’s such a gift to work with her.”
Natalie Cook, Communications Supervisor:
“Everything Arianne does at CKUA is done well. I’m always impressed by her work ethic, her leadership, and her attention to detail. She’s a real visionary, with talent and skills to support her vision. Our community is so lucky to have Arianne in the Content Director role.”
Tony King, Host of Thoroughfare:
“Authenticity. Sincerity and pugnaciousness. Here’s to fifteen amazing years at CKUA and all of the brilliant things you’ve done and all of the brilliant things to come. Keep on keeping the faith.”
Yvone Joubert, Donor Engagement and Stewardship Manager:
“Happy Anniversary, Arianne! Fifteen years is wild in all the best ways. I have very quickly seen the impact that you have on those around you. You have this calm steady presence about you, despite all the chaos happening around us every single day. You make people just feel like they can do anything and everything, which is so incredible to witness and to have experienced. I am so excited that we get to celebrate you. You celebrate everyone around you all the time and I really hope you take a moment to celebrate yourself!”
Jasmine Vickaryous, Senior Producer:
“A 15-year anniversary is an incredible milestone and I am just so proud that I get to be a part of that. I have only been here for four of those fifteen years but what a wild ride it has been so far, every festival, every fundraiser, all the ups and downs … I wouldn’t want to do it with anybody else. I appreciate you so much, I am so grateful that I get the chance to work with you. Let’s just keep it going, and here’s to the next 15.”
Andy Donnelly, Host of The Celtic Show:
“I just want to say it’s been absolutely wonderful to watch you over the years and your success and the great work that you do. Thank you from me for the help that you’ve been, for being such a good friend. Since that day that I met you, first of all, at CKUA, I knew you were going to be a wee star. And it’s happened.”
