On Oct. 7, 1922, CFRC Radio at Queen's University first took to the airwaves. 100 years later, a centennial plaque was unveiled outside the CFRC studios to commemorate the station's legacy. Mayor Bryan Paterson, MPP Ted Hsu, Queen's Principal Patrick Deane and Executive Director of the Community Radio Fund Canada Alex Freedman were at the ceremony and shared their thoughts on the value of the station.

“It is a part of the community, it is run by people from the community…these are the voices from the community," says Freedman.

"Campus radio is the first place that you hear those early Canadian artists…Shelagh Rogers started on this radio station. This is the place where those original voices get a microphone in front of them," he adds.

Former station manager Steve Cutway presented two achievement awards to long-standing volunteers Wayne Vermette and Jim Birch recognizing their over 40 consecutive years of broadcasting.

"I love radio, it's got me through so much...It's a very emotional day. I love CFRC, may it be here another hundred years," says Birch.

Freedman says while larger broadcasting companies with more subsidies and advertising may come and go, campus broadcasters are truly on the ground in the community. 

“These are the people who live in the community, these are the people who live and die by what goes out over that signal, and that’s pretty special,” says Freedman.

Freedman adds stations like CFRC are on the frontline in the fight for democracy.

“We live in an age of disinformation…there’s no question that the frontline against disinformation is local news, local media, local voice. Why?…We know them, we trust them, we know they’re impacted by the information in the same way we are,” says Freedman.

CFRC has launched its annual funding drive to support a new website, and to fund a summer radio theatre camp for youth.

Listen to the full CFRC interview with Alex Freedman below: