CFRU: 40 Years on the FM Dial

An Exhibit in Collaboration with the Guelph Civic Museum – March to October 2021

(scroll down for virtual exhibit – best on desktop browser)

-for best experience on smartphone or tablet click here-

CFRU: 40 Years on the FM Dial celebrates the legacy and history of Guelph’s campus-and-community radio station over the last 40+ years. With a wide-ranging collection of audio samples, artifacts, and ephemera – from reel-to-reel and cassette archives to stories from those who lived it – the exhibit will guide you through the eclectic, creative, socially conscious, funny, and wild story of this beloved local resource.

In addition to the physical display at the Guelph Civic Museum, this multimedia exhibit also features audio samples and archived images that will immerse you in CFRU’s history. In the image below, click on the different radios to visit pages of archival material from each year of our history and experience the sights and sounds of CFRU.  There are links to view high-res versions of the individual collages embedded in the image as well.

On January 28, 1980, CFRU hit the airwaves with its first FM broadcast. Transmitting at just 50 watts of power, it was enough to reach beyond the campus of the University of Guelph. Since then, CFRU has grown from a campus-oriented alternative music station into a vital community resource, offering Guelph a volunteer-driven alternative to mainstream and public radio. Today, CFRU reaches a listenership that extends north to Fergus, east to Rockwood, west to Kitchener-Waterloo, and south to the 401. CFRU has come to reflect the diversity of the community by providing access to the media for groups and individuals whose access would otherwise be limited to mainstream media outlets. By introducing new perspectives and offering engagement, information, and entertainment, CFRU has built a lasting legacy in Guelph and beyond.

If you’d like to get involved at CFRU, email volunteer@cfru.ca, anytime!

CLICK HERE FOR A VIRTUAL WALKTHROUGH VIDEO