CKDU welcomes new volunteers

CKDU gives radio hosts a chance to broadcast live on air

Linda Smilestone, one of a new batch of volunteers putting CKDU on the air, works the turntables at Dalhousie University’s campus radio station. Photo: Matt Elliott

In a room full of wannabe radio hosts and spoken-word poets, Linda Smilestone stands out.

At 50, she isn't the type to keep up with college radio charts or what trendy indie band is coming to a town near you. But as soon as Smilestone introduces herself to a crowd of younger, hipper college kids, it's obvious she's on their level.

"I'm a night owl . . . I stay up late."

Smilestone is one of 45 people who attended the CKDU Trainathon in September, an event that allows anyone with an interest in community radio become a full trained CKDU volunteer in one day.

She learned the technical aspects of running a radio program and received advice from staff on how to stay within the station's program regulations. Smilestone was the first person out of her trainathon group to sign-up to practice recording a demo.

She's a native of Halifax and graduate of the Dalhousie University acting program. While studying at Dalhousie, Smilestone had a friend who hosted a nightly radio show on CKDU. She would often visit to experience the sights and sounds of a radio station. Thirty years later, she's about to host her own talk show.

Smilestone is eager to talk about Middle Eastern politics - specifically, the political crisis in Israel. She moved there at 17 and stayed 21 years.

She became inspired by Israel Army Radio, or Galatz, a nationwide Israeli radio network operated by the Israel Defence Forces. The station was open and democratic, "everyone's radio station," anything but what she hears on most airwaves, she says.

"I want to get some truth out there, some clarity on what's happening in Israel, because it's all very muddy."

CKDU is a college and community radio station is an alternative to public and commercial radio. It's located on the fourth floor of the Dalhousie Student Union Building at 6136 University Avenue, and can be heard at 88.l FM.

The station has five part-time staff members, including program director Tarek Al-Zand, who says each volunteer brings different skills to the station and that Smilestone adds to the variety that CKDU prides itself on.

"Our volunteers are just as diverse as our programming," says Al-Zand. "As much as we're a resource for the community, the people are our resource as well."

Aside from her plans to bring the politics of the Middle East to local airwaves, Smilestone says that she would love to bring back radio theatre, re-creating old radio pieces she remembers hearing in her youth.

She's the first to admit that her music knowledge isn't vast, and that she probably won't be the station's music authority, but she guarantees she'll give listeners a show that's educational.

"I want to be the Ellen DeGeneres of radio ... and even if it's just 50-plus babes listening, I think we could have a lot of fun."

Comments on this story are now closed