Unions call on minister to rethink anti-strike bill

Funded by the Community Radio Fund of Canada, CKUT’s Local Journalism Initiative will publish local news stories from reporter Jules Bugiel.

As consultations wrap up for Bill 89, some of Quebec’s biggest unions are calling on the labour minister to call the bill off.

Heads of the CSN, CSQ, and FTQ unions told reporters on Thursday they want a meeting with Minister Jean Boulet before the controversial labour bill is passed. They say no one wants to take disruptive action – but that it’s not out of the question.

Bill 89 gives the labour minister the power to send workers to arbitration if he thinks a strike or lockout is causing serious or irreparable injury. It also allows Quebec’s labour tribunal to force workers and bosses to negotiate and maintain services, in cases where the population’s “wellbeing” is under threat.

A spokesperson for the minister told CKUT that Boulet “remains firmly committed to favouring the path of dialogue, not confrontation or intimidation.”

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Pioneer Grooves: Celebrating Ollie: A national Canadian icon in his 90th year

CKUT podcast project Pioneer Grooves features a diverse array of Montreal-based musicians whose music is deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of Montreal and Canada. Many of these artists left their birthplace in search of a better life, bringing with them a rich tapestry of musical genres.

Having originally profiled the legendary Steelpan players of Expo ’67, we now are pleased to publish a new episode, Celebrating Ollie: A national Canadian icon in his 90th year.

On a snowy afternoon last February, we had the privilege of spending hours with the legendary Oliver Jones in his home. He played music and shared captivating stories of 90 years of a wonderful life. Lovingly known as Ollie, he took us on a journey through his youth in Little Burgundy, with icons like Oscar Peterson and Daisy Sweeney, and gave us a glimpse into the dizzying heights of his remarkable career. We’re thrilled to share this episode with you — an entertaining and intimate look into the life of a Montreal master.

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NEW POSTS ON THE MUSIC BLOG: DIG IN

M FOR MOTHLAND BY MUNIRA

EXODUS IN GRIFFINTOWN BY MC

SLASH NEED INTERVIEW BY CECELIA

PELADA SAY FAREWELL BY MARCEL

NEW AMBER MARK EP BY YH

CKUT's Featured Archives

We’ve been broadcasting 24/7 for decades so for new ears it can be a little hard sometimes to know where to dive in. With hundreds of volunteers in the mix at any given time, even here at the station it can be tricky to know what is going on at times.

So – we’ve been trying to use our Featured Archives zone as a way to highlight great programming. It’s by no means an exhaustive list but it’s a good place to start if you’re trying to listen to some recent CKUT archives.

Thanks to our new website (WFMU heads might find it feels familiar) hosts are able to post playlists for their programming and help shine some light on the artists and figures hitting the air.

We’re hoping to turn this into a sort of “This Week at CKUT” update… stay tuned.

Browse our featured archives here

Black Education In Quebec

Black Education in Quebec is a compelling 9-part podcast series produced by the LaSalle Multicultural Resource Centre, aimed at enriching the Quebec educational landscape.

Hosted by journalists Phil Carpenter and Pat Dillon-Moore, and executive produced by Gloria Ann Cozier and Dr. Lerona Dana Lewis, this series delves into the Quebec school system through the candid stories of mostly retired Black teachers.

This podcast highlights the unique and pivotal contributions of Black teachers to the Quebec education system and beyond. It explores the vital importance of Black teachers’ representation and the profound impact their work has had on the lives of not only Black students but all Quebec students.

Inspired by the 2023 LMRC-led research project, “Changing Black Youth Futures,” which examined the experiences of Black students in Quebec schools, the research showed exclusionary practices that have affected the academic success and trajectories of Black Anglophone and Francophone youth. The two-year study revealed that Black students in Quebec are often placed into special groups, subjected to racially hostile environments, and faced with biased practices.

Listen to the podcast here

Time Capsule: The Subterranean Jungle

From the crypt…

Subterranean Jungle was a radio show that aired on CRFM/CKUT from 1985 to 1999 and was hosted by Flipped Out Phil.

We recently acquired some never-before-listened-to-in-a-long-time cassette tape recordings (pulled direct from the late ’80s FM airwaves by a young listener) and have posted them in our time capsule, along with a piece of writing from Donald Côté, who made the recordings.

Take a listen and a read back in time for a taste of this influential radio program and what it meant to an anonymous listener out there soaking in the air waves.

Subterranean Jungle with Flipped Out Phil

RIBBON SKIRT THE CKUT INTERIVEW

Alex Leitman sat down with Montreal’s Ribbon Skit for an interview in advance of their new record.

RIBBON SKIRT: THE CKUT INTERVIEW

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Programming

CKUT’s music programming emphasizes the uncommon, the new, and the daring. We have a variety of specialized music programs as well as open format programs that span many musical genres. DJs make their own musical selections, without the aid of a playlist, choosing from recordings sent to CKUT by artists and record companies around the world as well as from their own private collections.

CKUT’s spoken word programming features alternative news, public affairs and arts and culture shows.

Visit our schedule for a look at the weekly calendar. Click here to see a selection of some of our favourite recent episodes of CKUT programming.

Click the tags below to sort by category and click on a program to view archives:

Music Department

CKUT’s music programming emphasizes the uncommon, the new, and the daring. This is CKUT's Music Department blog... weekly music charts, interviews with artists, reviews of local shows, and more.

Spoken Word

CKUT’s spoken word programming features alternative community news, public affairs and arts and culture shows. We cover queer culture, environmental and social justice issues, feminism, theatre, African and Latin American current affairs, Indigenous languages and more. This is our blog!

Time Capsule

A history of some of our most interesting stories, 1987-today. Stories about the station in the form of interviews, audio clips, scanned materials, and more.

SHUNK live in the music office.

The glamorous and vibey Shunk visited the the CKUT music dungeon for a live sesh. Their FIRST ALBUM “SHUNKLAND” is OUT MARCH 7th and you can catch them MARCH 12 at Datcha with Born at Midnight and DJ Flleur.

Learn more

Featured Archives

March 24, 2025 World Skip The Beat

World Skip – Trip Hop Latino

GASPAR PLAYS TRIP HOP LATINO holding it down in studio for two hours.

March 13, 2025 2025 Freeform Air

Freeform Air – Raef and Alyssa

Late night haze from two volunteer rock stars.

March 5, 2025 2025 All Da Way Live

All Da Way Live – INTERVIEW with NICHOLAS CRAVEN

PRO-V and Nicholas Craven talk upcoming projects and field calls from all over the map. Classic daytime radio.

February 20, 2025 2025 Positive Vibes

Positive Vibes – with Sampaloo and DJ Foot live in studio

Roger Moore rocks out in studio with the great Sampaloo and DJ Foot.

February 13, 2025 2025 Venus Radio

Venus Radio – with vm339

Another classic Venus episode with electronic tracks from legends like DJ Minx, Wendy Carlos, Suzanne Ciani et al.

January 28, 2025 2025 New Shit

Dawson College New Shit Takeover

On January 17, 2025, CKUT hosted 18 students from Dawson's Social Change and Solidarity Program to learn about the intersections between activism and student/community radio and then take over the waves to talk about what they've learned and play music requests from the community orgs they've visited. We got a late start on the episode but we've updated the archive file accordingly. The first hour is the live show and the second hour is the playlist of all the song requests.

January 16, 2025 2025 Hersay Special Programming

HERSAY Special: Spotlight on Jayne County with Cece

Cece dives deep into the catalogue of trans punk pioneer Jayne County

January 16, 2025 2025 News Collective Off The Hour

The News Collective covers the current political situation in Canada

January 16, 2025 2025 Prison Radio Show

🎇 Prison Radio Show NYE Noise Demo Special 🎇

The Prison Radio NYE Special featured live updates from the annual NYE Noise Demo that happens outside the Laval prisons.

December 10, 2024 2024 Funky Revolutions

Funky Rhythms & Percussion from November 26, 1994.

CKUT's Funky Revolutions celebrates 30 years on air since November 1994. FR dedicated to the past, present and future of the funk around the world. We go back to the beginnings of the show. On this week's episode an exploration of the international expression of Funky Rhythms & Percussion from November 26 1994.

November 27, 2024 2024 Off The Hour Special Programming

Off The Hour: Palestine solidarity movements in Montreal and beyond

A crucial round table discussion with organizers and supporters of various Palestine solidarity efforts in the city, live from Casa del Popolo.

November 19, 2024 2024 Free City Radio Special Programming

Free City Radio – Voices for housing justice, live from Parc Ex

A live broadcast highlighting the ways that the extreme wave of gentrification that is taking place in Montréal is having a particularly heavy impact on Parc Ex. and other low income districts in the city.

November 12, 2024 2024 Whose Vibe Is It Anyways?

Whose Vibe SEASON II – Hosted By RossyRoss – Nov 11

November 12, 2024 2024 Funky Revolutions

Funky Revolutions October 26, 2024: To Be (Arab) (Interview with Narcy & Omar Offendum followed by Stefan Christophe’s Cultural Workers for Palestine & an in studio interview w Syrian singer Nadine Altounji

To Be (Arab) (Interview with Narcy & Omar Offendum followed by Stefan Christophe's Cultural Workers for Palestine & an in studio interview w Syrian singer Nadine Altounji

November 12, 2024 2024 Off The Hour

Off the Hour Wednesday November 6, 2024: The News Collective tackles the US election / QC immigration / cops off campus

The News Collective tackles the US election / QC immigration / cops off campus

November 5, 2024 2024 Kool Runnings

Kool Runnings – Quincy Jones RIP Special

Two hours of hidden gems from Quincy Jones.

November 2, 2024 Funky Revolutions

The Mothership Cassette Archives Celebrating 30 years of Funky Revolutions (The Origin Story)

Legend alert... As we celebrate 30 years of Funky Revolutions since November 1994, we thought we would go to the first time we flew a mothership by going back to our first funk show in March of 1992 at Western's CHRW 94.7 FM where we first started doing radio - a Friday afternoon jazz show called Beale Street Talking.

October 25, 2024 2024 New Shit

New Shit – Live from Campus

New Shit takes the portable battery pack and other gizmos down to McGill campus for a great live broadcast, eventually cut short by McGill security bouncing the crew live on the air.

September 19, 2024 2024 Sounds of Resistance

Sounds of Resistance – Round table with Stefan Christoff, Samar Alkhdour, Ehab Lotayef, and more

Community organizer Samaa Elibyari and long-time CKUT volunteer programmer Stefan Christoff present an extended segment on migrant justice organizing in Montréal.

September 18, 2024 2024 All Da Way Live

All Da Way Live – MONTREAL HIP-HOP

Dozens of local artists featured in this two hour smokeshow.

September 14, 2024 2024 Funky Revolutions

Funky Revolutions – Artists and Tenants Under Attack

A live remote broadcast broadcast to look at the ways that real estate monsters are attacking independent artists in the context of an unprecedented housing and space affordability crisis in the city and beyond.

September 2, 2024 2024 Underground Sounds

Underground Sounds – Kasen and Charly

Kasen and Charly step up to the plate with two great hours of local music and a full tracklist. Cecile Believe, Piss For Pumpkin, Bonnie Trash and more...

August 14, 2024 2024 The Sleepy King

The Sleepy King – #157

Roi de personne, roi qui s’éveille, roi qui dort, roi qui rêve. Le roi dormant Avec Benoît Chaput et des invités. Poésie, musique. A characteristically beautiful morning episode from the king of sleepy. Music from Wendy Eisenberg, Sunburned Hand Of The Man, Fred Neil, and more.

August 14, 2024 2024 If You Got Ears

If You Got Ears – Sentena and Big Zen

DJ Frog presents the duality of man - an hour of noise from Montreal's Sentena, followed by Vancouver's Big Zen bangin beats in the studio.