Farewell to Canadian Spaces host “Chopper” McKinnon

Folk music isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But music, culture and people who make a difference deserve space in the public radio spectrum.

With that in mind, here’s word on the passing of a major figure in the Ottawa folk scene. Allan “Chopper” McKinnon.

According to this Ottawa Citizen profile:

McKinnon hosted a radio show on folk music program for 33 years and he was a familiar face at the Ottawa Folk Festival and also at the Ottawa Folklore Centre, where he worked. He was a dominant voice for folk music and singer-songwriters in Ottawa, promoting many of Canada’s best known artists through Canadian Spaces, his broadcasting perch on Carleton University’s CKCU-FM.

CKCU (93.1 FM) doesn’t have a very strong signal. But you can listen live over the internet. Some of Canadian Spaces past playlists and archived shows are available here.

Saturday at 10 am Canadian Spaces will pay tribute to McKinnon by playing some of his favorite artists.

Fans can “put on a pot of your favourite hot, brown beverage, and sit back for 40 minutes of uninterrupted folk” and maybe make a toast to a dedicated champion of folk music.

Tags: Allan "Chopper" McKinnon, canada, Canadian Spaces, CKCU, folk music, Ottawa