CKUA is delighted to share the news that it is scheduled to receive $10.9 Million over two years through the federal PrairiesCan funding program.
PrairiesCan, or Prairies Economic Development Canada, is a federal department that promotes economic growth across the Canadian Prairies, which includes Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. It focuses on diversifying the economy by supporting business development, innovation, and community economic growth in these regions. PrairiesCan also provides funding for various initiatives aimed at enhancing the economic landscape of Western Canada.
CKUA’s Chief Operating Officer and Acting CEO, Adam Mitchell says, “We are thrilled to share this incredible news with our community. CKUA has always been more than a radio station. It is a gathering place for music, arts, and connection across Alberta and beyond. This investment from PrairiesCan helps us grow, modernize, and support the people and infrastructure that make this work possible. It allows us to invest in our team, our capital spaces, and in the development of new programs and deeper audience relationships. This support came to life because our community stepped forward and shared what CKUA means to them. We are deeply grateful and more inspired than ever to carry that energy into everything we build next.”
Mitchell also reflected on how this support is separate from CKUA’s ongoing revenue generation through listener donations, major gifts, and other sources of income, such as 50/50 raffles.
“This is a one-time government investment,” says Mitchell. “It will be used to invest in capital infrastructure. Things like equipment, building enhancements, and maintenance will be possible because of this funding. We also plan to invest more in audience development, including connecting with our 16 transmitter communities all around the province. We’ll introduce new programming and welcome new voices on the air. This investment will help us in our stabilization plan; it is not the stabilization plan.”
This funding will not alter CKUA’s independence or change its mission to connect people at the community level. This investment demonstrates the Government of Canada’s recognition of the importance of CKUA and the role CKUA plays in Canada’s arts and culture landscape.
In Spring 2024, CKUA informed its community that it was in danger of going off the air due to financial constraints. In response to that news, more than 9000 messages of support were sent to government representatives at the provincial and federal levels. This letter-writing (and email!) campaign helped to demonstrate to the federal government that CKUA matters to Albertans and Canadians.
This announcement would not be possible without the efforts of CKUA’s Board of Directors—past and present—and CKUA’s past CEO, Marc Carnes. Their work to increase awareness about CKUA’s strengths and uniqueness was significant and essential.
This PrairiesCan investment shows confidence in CKUA’s viability. This announcement will launch other conversations to support CKUA’s sustainability. CKUA will begin projects that were identified by its leadership and board as important and worthy of investment. Government funding does not direct CKUA’s priorities, and CKUA will continue to determine its own goals and areas of focus.
If you are wondering whether donations from listeners are still important and needed by CKUA, the answer is a resounding “Yes!” Daily operations are funded by donors and sponsors, and will continue to be. Support from the community keeps the music playing, keeps the lights on, keeps the broadcast fresh and new each day. CKUA is donor-supported broadcasting and will continue to be.
CKUA’s Chief Development Officer, Kevin Fitzgerald, says, “CKUA is proud of its history and planning for its future. We all want a sustainable CKUA, and we need a diverse revenue generation plan to achieve this. We also know that CKUA’s foundation is grounded in community; we exist because listeners choose to become donors. The daily operations of CKUA have always been, and will continue to be, funded by our listeners. We are so grateful for the support of every donor.”
As CKUA prepares for a second century of music and community, its leadership, staff, and listeners receive this funding news with gratitude and with anticipation about all it will mean for CKUA’s future.
