CKUA Radio raises enough money to stay on-air for now [Video]

Donations over the past few months have helped a nearly century-old radio station stay on the air.

Community-funded CKUA Radio, which was founded in 1927 and broadcasts across Alberta, announced in April it was in urgent need to raise $3 million by the end of September or risk going off the air permanently.

The Edmonton-based station cited inflationary pressures, a $6-million loan repayment on the Alberta Hotel building, loss of tenants through the pandemic and a lack of government support for what it called a dire situation.

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It’s a situation CKUA’s chief Executive officer, Marc Carnes, announced Wednesday has improved thanks to a ‘record-breaking’ fundraising campaign.

“Because of our donors, we kept our lights on,” said Carnes. “We weathered hundreds of thousands of dollars in skyrocketing utility bills, we kept people employed and, most importantly, …