CKUA Radio Network is thrilled to announce a $350,000 gift from longtime listener Dr. Fredrykka Rinaldi.
In recognition of her generosity, the fifth-floor balcony at CKUA’s Alberta Hotel building in Edmonton will now be named “Fred’s Aerial Balcony” (FAB) as a nod to both her name and her lighthearted spirit.
Dr. Rinaldi has been a CKUA listener since 1991. Drawn initially to the station’s classical offerings, she was soon pleased to find her horizons broadening.
“I was quite surprised how much I liked Wide Cut Country,” she says. “Growing up in southern Alberta, I always hated country music. So it was surprising to learn that I actually really liked it.”
Her donation is rooted in deep appreciation for the station’s impact and resilience.
“I was here in ’97, so I know what that was like. It would be a nightmare if CKUA went off the air,” she said, recalling the time CKUA went silent. “I was at a conference in Edmonton and there were probably half a dozen of us saying, ‘Could you get CKUA this morning?’ And ‘no, no.’”
Dr. Rinaldi has spent over 30 years caring for Albertans as a family physician. She lives and works in Medicine Hat. Beyond medicine and music, she enjoys gardening, riding her motorbike, and caring for her rescue dog, a mastiff-pitbull mix.
Her thoughtful approach to life extends to how she gives back. She didn’t want flashy recognition.
“I didn’t want it to be really obvious, I wanted the focus to be on CKUA, not me.” The name is instead a subtle, joyful tribute.
For those new to it, CKUA Radio is Alberta’s only province-wide, donor-supported public radio station, with a growing audience of 500,000 monthly listeners from around the world.
CKUA presents 127.5 hours of original, locally curated programming a week while sharing the music of nearly 1,000 independent Alberta artists each year and a further 2,000 Canadian artists.
One of Dr. Rinaldi’s favourite shows is From Screen to Stage with Aaron Au, which she has often supported through donated hours. “I love that program; it’s great. And I really like Aaron. He’s very approachable.” She also loves Alberta Morning, which she says has great variety. “It’s such a nice way to wake up.”
Dr. Rinaldi’s reason for giving is simple. “I don’t have kids to leave money to – not that I have tons – and I thought I might as well do it before I’m dead!”
Thanks to her generosity, FAB will continue to be a dedicated space for live performances, interviews, and community gatherings. It all helps further CKUA’s mission of supporting music, arts, and culture, in Alberta and across the world.
“Whether it’s music or some other kind of art, it’s uniting,” she said. “You can be totally different, but you can come together over it.”
Her message to fellow Albertans?
“CKUA is part of our Alberta heritage. It’s something we can be proud of. It’s unique. Culturally it’s something we should appreciate. There’s so much, like jazz, that I never would have listened to if I hadn’t tuned into CKUA.”
Her ongoing support and this particularly significant gift are gratefully received.
“We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Rinaldi for this gift,” said Adam Mitchell, CKUA’s Chief Operating Officer. “Her generosity, humour, and love for the arts reflect the very heart of CKUA’s mission. FAB is more than a balcony. It’s a celebration of community and creativity.”
A private celebration to dedicate the space is planned for late September.
If you are interested in giving to CKUA, please check out our website for more information. You can also reach our Fund Development team at donors@ckua.com.
