CKUA is proud to announce a new partnership with Qualico, one of Western Canada’s leading real estate companies. Qualico’s significant financial contribution will help strengthen CKUA’s mission to connect all Albertans through music, arts, and culture.
Qualico’s partnership with CKUA will include one special change at CKUA headquarters on Jasper Avenue. CKUA’s recording and broadcast space beside Main Control will now be known as The Qualico Studio, used for preparing and recording interviews, and for broadcasting live radio programs.
Grant Stovel, who uses the studio to deliver Alberta Morning on weekdays, says, “There’s more room and more microphones in Main Control, but I also love this studio. We started using it for radio broadcasts during the pandemic when we had to keep people separated from shift to shift. It really opened our eyes to possibilities of the space. This studio is wonderful. It’s a smaller, cozy place to make radio. It’s also a great place to record interviews.”
Founded in Winnipeg in 1951, Qualico is one of Western Canada’s largest privately held real estate companies, with operations that include new homebuilding, neighbourhood development, commercial development, property management, and building supply operations.
Since expanding into Alberta in 1954, Qualico has played a key role in shaping both Edmonton and Calgary communities for more than 70 years. More than half of Qualico’s workforce resides in Alberta.
Those deep Alberta roots make Qualico a great fit for community partnerships. Brad Armstrong, Regional Vice-President for Northern Alberta, says, “At Qualico, partnership means working together with others who share our commitment to community, culture, and sustainability.” He adds, “Whether we’re collaborating with cities, builders, or organizations like CKUA, we believe that meaningful partnerships make stronger and more connected communities.”
Choosing to partner with CKUA aligns with Qualico’s core values. “We want to support a variety of community groups,” says Claudio Palumbo, Regional Vice-President for Southern Alberta, “including those that focus on music, arts, and culture.” He notes that CKUA’s focus on storytelling, community connections, and Canadian arts complements Qualico’s commitment to build better cities, adding, “Our support of CKUA reflects our belief that strong communities are not built on bricks and mortar alone, but also through shared culture, creativity, and connection.”
Qualico’s pledge of support—and these wise words—are gratefully acknowledged by CKUA. Kevin Fitzgerald, CKUA’s Chief Development Officer, says, “CKUA and Qualico are both focused on building communities! One of Qualico’s corporate impact areas is ‘healthy lives,’ and we know that the arts sector plays a vital role here. The more we spoke with Qualico, the more we saw an alignment of values. CKUA is thrilled to be entering into this new partnership with Qualico, and we thank them for their pledge of support.”
Armstrong is looking forward to seeing how connections between Qualico and CKUA develop. “Thriving communities are shaped by the creativity and diversity of the people within them,” he says. “Supporting the arts allows us to celebrate that. We want to see local talent and culture continue to inspire future generations.”
Thank you to our friends at Qualico for this generous gift. We are so grateful for your investment in CKUA and your commitment to community! All of us at CKUA are looking forward to welcoming guests, making great radio, and celebrating arts and culture from The Qualico Studio.
Over the coming months, we’ll share more info about how corporate giving will strengthen CKUA in the future. Learn about CKUA’s fundraising and community support plans at www.ckua.com/donorpowered.
If you missed Grant Stovel’s conversation with Brad Armstrong and Claudio Palumbo during Alberta Morning on November 6, catch it here:
