12/07/2024
Hello friends, abolitionists and CPR supporters,
I’m so sad to finally have to send this email but I just wanted everyone to know that after 13 good years on the air on CFRC I plan to cancel the Prison Radio Show in Kingston as of September. There will also be no Prisoners’ Justice Day special broadcast this August 10th for the first time in 16 years. I believe the show is still relevant and we were still getting great input and engagement from local prisoners up until the end but I’ve been unable to recruit collective members for several years now and my life circumstances have changed (mainly I have at toddler now and live an hour from the radio station). It’s been a long time since I did a good job hosting the show and I think it’s time to admit that it’s over.
If anyone is reading this and feels inspired to take over the show in Kingston and keep it on the air please do get in touch! I’d be more than happy to train somebody and share all that I know for the sake of keeping things going and would even help you with hosting on occasion, I just can’t do it on my own anymore.
I also want to thank the founders of the show, everyone who has volunteered with us, all current and former staff at CFRC 101.9FM, and everyone who hosted Prison Radio for the many years before I took over for 16 years of really great content. As so many activist projects move their media online-only and most prisoners still lack Internet access I know that the radio show will be sorely missed. Hopefully one day someone will have the energy and initiative to do something on the airwaves again for Kingston-area prisoners.
Much of the show’s archives are available on cfrcprisonradio.wordpress.com if anyone is curious, and I’m always available by email if anyone has questions about the show and how it has gone.
Love and solidarity,
Rachel for CFRC Prison Vancouver Co-op Radio CFRO
CFRC 101.9fm Vancouver Co-op Radio CFRO John Howard Society of Kingston and District Beyond Prison Walls Canada Society Inc.AKA Autonomous Social Centre
