CKDU-FM is Halifax’s only FM campus-community radio station. We are a volunteer-run, 3200-watt station broadcasting 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, from the Dalhousie campus to the metro Halifax area. CKDU-FM has been broadcasting as an FM station since 1985.

CKDU’s mandate is to provide an alternative to private and public broadcasters, and to be a forum for diverse and under-represented voices, music, and news. CKDU is committed to public access to the airwaves and supporting marginalized individuals and communities through our projects and programming.
History

Student radio began at Dalhousie in 1964 as a radio club. In 1969, the club moved into the newly completed Dalhousie Student Union building and broadcast throughout the building via a system of speakers. In 1975, the radio club became CKDU and began broadcasting through closed circuit to Dal residences. Dalhousie students voted in 1983 to convert to FM and we began broadcasting to the larger world at 4:00 P.M. February 1, 1985, at the frequency 97.5 FM. In 2006, CKDU increased its broadcast power to 3200 watts and changed its frequency to 88.1FM.

At CKDU, we recognize that our society is made up of many points of view and belief systems and we strive to commit ourselves to being inclusive and accessible: we recognize the importance of airing diverse points of view, especially those that are rarely covered in the mainstream media. CKDU often devotes an entire day’s programming to a single important issue, such as Homelessness or Aboriginal Awareness. We have also covered the Radio Free Palestine national broadcast, Prisoner’s Justice Day, and Halifax Pride Week. CKDU also participated in the national Dig Your Roots broadcasts, which gave airtime to under-represented genres: underground Hip Hop, ground-breaking Spoken Word, earth-bending Electronic Dance, and down-to-earthy Roots. We encourage and support the participation of underrepresented groups including people who identify as Mi’kmaq and Maliseet, whose land we broadcast on.

CKDU 88.1 FM

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