25 Years Of Sound

I'll be upfront in stating that this blog isn't hitting its 25th anniversary yet, but it's not too far off when one considers that the first article was written in 2007. We'll let the age of this blog slide for today because I'm here to celebrate another milestone for a place that has a big impact on my life, my writing on this blog, and my Thursday nights for the past eleven years. As of yesterday, 101.5 CJUM-FM has been on the air for 25 years as of Monday, bringing all sorts of music, chatter, and events to your radio and internet stream over that time. It would seem that UMFM has a place in many people's lives based on the number of people who frequently contact the station, but that doesn't mean we don't have more room for anyone who wants to listen to this great radio station!

UMFM takes great pride in being a campus and community radio station where students and community members can broadcast shows to the general public about a myriad of topics and musical genres. With a focus on non-commercial music, the tunes you'll hear on UMFM range from folk to soul to hip hop to punk, and that's only scratching the surface. I'm not trying to influence anyone's listening habits, but I find myself tuning into shows like Punks In Parkas with DJ Penny Lane; The Bench Jockeys with Mike, Bryan, and Chris; Mondo Hollywood with Amanda; and Cretin Radio with Cretin Rob. Options are plentiful when it comes to listening options, so make sure you check in regularly to see what's spinning in the booth!

Of course, UMFM gave me the chance to hit the airwaves where I could talk hockey rather than just writing about it. The Hockey Show went live on September 13, 2011 as the NHL lockout started, and we've been introducing stories and news each and every week since that day. This week's show will be the final episode of Season 11 of The Hockey Show, and it's pretty crazy to think about all the places this radio show has taken my co-hosts and me over that span.

This isn't about The Hockey Show or me, though. It's about UMFM - a place where the people are great and the laughs happen often. The efforts that GM Jared and PD Mike - Program Director, for those wondering - put in daily, every month, and every year to make the station one of the most happening places on the University of Manitoba campus can only be referenced by words like "amazing", "extraordinary", and "remarkable". If the people sitting behind the microphone in the UMFM booth are the heart of the station, these two gents are the brains, the eyes, and the ears of a place that's constantly looking help faculty, students, and the community in and around the University of Manitoba and throughout Winnipeg.

There isn't a lot that can't be done by UMFM. The station has broadcast live sporting events, concerts, speeches, and attractions. It has welcomed a number of famous people in-person and on its airwaves including country artist Kieran West, former Montreal Canadiens netminder and author Ken Dryden, Winnipeg-born Ariel Posen, the always-fantastic Apollo Suns, and former Chicago Blackhawks netminder Warren Skorodenski have all spent time in the UMFM studio with some of our great hosts! Of course, the hosts on UMFM have also had the privilege of interviewing some amazing people from all walks of life, including TSN host and author James Duthie, actor Jared Keeso, Rheostatics frontman and author Dave Bidini, actor Michael Biehn, and actor Anthony Michael Hall. Needless to say, UMFM are where the cool people hang out for fun!

UMFM also promotes dozens of shows every year at local venues such as The Handsome Daughter, the West End Cultural Centre, the Park Theatre, and The Good Will Social Club while helping local festivals like the Winnipeg International Jazz Festival (aka Jazz Fest), the Winnipeg Folk Festival, and the Gimli International Film Festival. Beyond the promotion of events, the station also proudly gives away tickets to all sorts of events, so listening to UMFM could be how you can win something cool as well!

I guess what I'm saying is that it's been a remarkable 25 years of amazing guests, incredible events and festivals, and awesome radio for a little station on the campus of the University of Manitoba. I am honoured to have been a part of those 25 years with The Hockey Show, and it seems like things aren't slowing down anytime soon for UMFM. While we all weathered a pandemic, UMFM has been there for Winnipeggers over the last 25 years with its music, talk, and special event programming whenever someone needed it.

I guess what I'm saying is congratulations on an amazing 25 years, UMFM! It's hard to believe that I've been visiting every Thursday for just under half of that time, but I guess the saying is true: time truly flies when you're having fun!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!