For the last couple of years, I have spent a decent part of most holiday Mondays listening to an all-request radio program on CKWR. The format of CKWR is “adult alternative”, which means music from my teenage years that I mostly like and can mostly tolerate.
CKWR bills itself as “real community radio”, and that is true. Weekdays between 6AM and 6PM is indie/alternative music from the ‘80s. Being a Canadian station, CKWR plays a lot of cool Canadian music from the 80s that most people have forgotten or never heard.
Most of what CKWR plays is good, and an even vaster majority never gets played on commercial radio. However, the playlist does seem to be computer generated, so the songs repeat a bit, and the diversity of genres could be wider.
However, on holiday Mondays, CKWR goes all-request between 10AM and 2PM.
The algorithm goes out the window, and the music explodes.
Legendary DJ Pete Fowler hosts, and he generally has someone on the air with him from the Kitchener-Waterloo community. Pete also gently encourages listeners to act by donating to a charity or supporting a local event. Usually, it is both.
Fowler shared sobering stats from the Kitchener-Waterloo food bank
Throughout the show, there were reminders about how more and more people are relying upon food shelters these days. He reminded us of hunger statistics supplied by The Food Bank of Waterloo Region, including:
- In 2023, two million Canadians used a food bank. That works out to about 1 in 20 Cannucks.
- In Toronto and the Waterloo region, 1 in 10 people now rely upon food banks. That is up from 1 in 14 in Waterloo last year.
In the Waterloo region, of the people who relied upon the Food Bank:
- 14,074 children were between 0 and 17 years old, a 19% increase over the same quarter in 2023.
- 1,467 seniors 65 and older, a 13% increase over the same quarter in 2023.
- 20,269 adults 18 and older, an 11% increase over the same quarter in 2023.
“If you sent in a request and we played it, why not think about donating $5 to the Food Bank?”
Fowler also said that at the end of his radio show, and it got to me. Radio still has the power to do that, to connect people as if they were across the table instead of across town, or across the world. It is the “warm medium” after all.
“I played like 60 requests. Imagine if everyone who got a song played gave $5.” – Fowler
“Imagine if everyone playing the office lottery donated the same money to the Food Bank instead.” – me
I hadn’t made a request, but listening to great music meant that I was in a great mood. Without Fowler’s all-request show, I would have sunk into depression. Also, I had heard two great songs that I hadn’t heard in ages:
- Micro Chip League (MCL) – New York
In my little corner of the world, this song was everywhere when it was new. It was so omnipresent that it would be playing in the principal’s office if you got sent in for skipping hockey practice. I was indifferent at the time, but now I think I kind of like it. The computer saying “Bro-dway” alone is worth the price of admission. - New Fast Automatic Daffodils – Stockholm
This gem was all over the place when it was new as well. Poutine parlours, skate-sharpening centres, lacrosse pro shops… …they all had it on 24/7. Fowler mentioned that , New FADS played with Consolidated somewhere in Kitchener-Waterloo. There’s a show!
The singer for New Fast Automatic Daffodils was even on Coronation Street. That’s bigger than Banksy, mate!
To sum up: Pete Fowler challenged listeners to donate $5 to the Kitchener-Waterloo food bank, and I accepted the challenge. I gave $10.90.
Why I donated more than $5 to the Food Bank of Waterloo Region
1. Upon clicking the Donate button, you see a message that says, “For every $1 you give, we can provide 2 meals to those in need.”
I did the math, and ten bucks will buy 20 meals. Ten dollars will also buy a pint of beer. In other words, 20 meals or 20 ounces. The choice is clear. I doubled my $5 to $10. The $0.90 comes in because it is a processing fee that the Fintech company charges to process the donation. You can either pay it or have it taken out of your gift.
2. Your Employer may match your donation – double your impact!
Here’s your chance to make the uber-rich pay their fair share! Many employers have a donation matching program that will double or triple the value of your donation! Don’t worry about their financial well-being, they’ll get a tax receipt. And so will you!
3. Dedicate your donation!
Your donation to the Food Bank of Waterloo Region can be dedicated to anyone you wish. The person you specify will receive an e-card via email alerting them to your kind actions.
Here is another opportunity to make the uber-rich pay, or at least send them a message.
I encourage you to get creative with your Honouree’s name, especially since you can give to the Food Bank anonymously.
My suggestions for honourees of your donation to the Food Bank include:
- Justin Trudeau (The PM likes to thank people for their donations too)
- Chrystia Freeland
- Galen Weston
- Per Bank (Loblaw CEO)
Be a caregiver – put food on someone’s table!
By taking up Pete Fowler’s challenge, I felt empowered. I wasn’t helpless to help. I contributed to the well-being of people and the well-being of the community of Kitchener-Waterloo.
As The Style Council said many years ago:
“You don’t have to take this crap
Paul Weller
You don’t have to sit back and relax
You can actually try changing things”
Perry's Pen 
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