[May 13th, 2026] — The NCRA/ANREC is proud to announce the winners of the 2026 CRABO Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements and contributions in our community. These awards are a way to highlight the incredible work everyone has done and give it the recognition they deserve.
2026 CRABO Award Winners:
- Volunteer of the Year
Description: Volunteer of the Year honours the person who has worked tirelessly for your station without getting any financial remuneration. They may have worked at one, or many positions. Winner: CIVL – Eric Smeysters
- Best in Podcasting
Description: Open to shows that are primarily podcasted online. The sound should reflect the more intimate nature of podcasts, and reflect standards being established in podcasting. Winner: CJSR – Accessing Home, Meagan Miller
- Creative Production
Description: Open to audio art, PSAs, Station IDs or advertisements. Not open to regular programming. Winner: 93.9FM CICK – I Dig Membership Drive 2025, Pamela Haasen
- Documentary
Description: Open to all documentaries which devote themselves to covering a particular subject in depth. It must be primarily for the purposes of instruction, education or maintaining the historical record. Winner: CiTR 101.9 – Germ GirlCJPE, Chloe Aimee Roger
- Syndicated Radio Show
Description: Open to shows broadcast on a member station and at least two other member stations. Winner: 93.9FM CICK – Syrup Moose Radio (Ep 81: Banned Books & Genocide), Brendan Barlow
- Third Language
Description: Open to music or spoken work programming, where more than half of the spoken word, or music selections is in a language other than French or English. Winner: CKRK K103.7 – Tewawennakara:tats
- Neskie Manuel Award for Aboriginal Affairs and Culture Programming
Description: Open to shows or individual radio pieces. Submissions should be by, for, or about Indigenous people. Winner: CKRK – All Kanien;kaha Talk Show
- Excellence in Sports Broadcasting
Description: Open to sports shows with a focus on analysis, player and athlete interviews and individual sports stories. Winner: CJSW – The Sports Show, Dimitri Korolis and Mitch Hontzias
- Local Talent Development
Description: Local Talent Development honours how your station has contributed to supporting the work of local artists in the past year. Winner: CiTR 101.9FM – Cozy Corner, Zoie McClymont
- Breaking Barriers
Description: Open to shows or individual radio pieces. This category is devoted to programming that clearly fights oppression, discrimination, and promotes equity. Winner: CJTM 1280 AM – Nature’s calling but the city of Toronto isn’t picking up the phone, Mia Johnson
- Excellence in Student Programming
Description: Open to any currently enrolled students: The award is for programming by currently enrolled students for students. Must be currently enrolled in a highschool, or post-secondary institution. Winner: CJTM 1280 AM – A visit to Allan Gardens Food Bank, threatened by redevelopment: ‘We don’t have anywhere to go’, Gabriel Hilty
- Current Affairs or Magazine Show
Description: Open to one episode or a selection of excerpts of a regular spoken word program. This can include opinion, or soft-news programming. Winner: CJSW – 2025 Calgary Municipal Election Coverage, Emma Marshall & Kaamil Kareemi
- News
Description: Open to newscasts, news programs, live news or individual news stories. This is not for opinion or editorial content. The programming should convey factual information in keeping with hard news programming. Winner: CKRK K1037 – News Cast with Paul Graif
- “OUT LOUD” Best in LGBTQ+ Programming
Description: Open to shows or individual pieces. Submission should be by, for and/or about the 2SLGBT+ Community (2-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and others). Winner: CiTR 101.9FM – Laughs in Queer: A Story of New Voices, New Cultures, and New Communities in Stand-up Comedy, Ky Sargeant
- Woman’s Hands and Voices
Description: Open to shows or individual pieces. Submission should be by, for and/or about Women’s issues and subjects. The Submitted audio should fall under at least one of these categories. Winner: CFUV – The Big Broadcast: 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Jana Juniper Gee
- Community Engagement
Description: This award honours how your station has helped your community in the past year. This can include programming, special events, charity, fundraising, partnerships with other local organizations or anything else that made a difference. This award may also recognize the effort made in extraordinary programming, such as a one-day marathon or broadcast local event. The focus will be on programming which engages the community. Winner: CIVL-FM
- Creative Spoken Word (NEW CATEGORY)
Description: Open to show or individual radio pieces. This category is for fictional, dramatic and written works. Winner: CJLO 1690 – Creative Spoken Word moving forward (we’re so back), Jasper Maize
- Excellence in Interview Storytelling (NEW CATEGORY)
Description: Open to show or individual radio pieces. This category is for interview segments, for content and production stemming from non-news-related interviews. Winner: CHSR – Storytelling Once On Much – Ep01 Hawksley Workman, Erin Bond
- Experimental (NEW CATEGORY)
Description: Open to show or individual radio pieces. This category is for non-traditional and primarily non-musical radio programming, seeking to push boundaries, which may include spoken word, music, and/or audio production. Winner: CiTR 101.9 FM – Marco Polo Goes Missing, Deon Feng
- Music Programming
Description: Music Programming, these are audio excerpts from a program, with a similar music theme.
- Music: Country or similar music: Winner: CJSR-FM – Fervor Coulee’s Rootsicana & Bluegrass, Donald Teplyske
- Music: Blues or similar music: Winner: CKHA – Backbeat Radio, Lorne VanSinclair
- Music: Electronic or similar music: Winner: MetRadio 1280AM – DJ Laura Palmer-Busy Signal.bin Mix, Sean Warkentine
- Music: Punk or similar music: Winner: CJSW – The Punk Trunk, Alex Patz
- Music: Jazz or similar music: Winner: CICK – Night Train: Quesnel After Dark, Greg Auld
- Music: R&B or similar music: Winner: CJSR – The Purple Room, Shantu Ellis
- Music: Loud or similar music: Winner: CJSW– Motte & Bailey, Milan Jackson Uyeno
- Music: Variety Program: Winner: CJSR – Labelicious Radio, Nathaniel Sutton
- Music: Alternative or similar music: Winner: CFEP 105.9 Seaside FM – Islander Highlight – The Cape Breton Songbook, Daniel Briand
- Music: Classical Century or similar music: Winner: Kootenay Coop Radio – Pulcinella, Doug Jamieson
- Music: Pop or similar music: Winner: MetRadio 1280AM – On The Roster x The 2025 Juno Awards, Michael Roudbari
- Music: Rap or similar music: Winner: CJSW – Sonic Cycle, Kaamil Kareemi
- Music: Rock or similar music: Winner: CJSW – Greenhouse, Emily Roadhouse
- Music: Reggae or similar music: Winner: CJSR – Caribbean Connexion, DJ Iceman
- Music: Metal or similar music: Winner: CJSF 90.1FM Burnaby – The Metal Meltdown, Toño Dorantes (Dr. Misterio)
- Music: Folk or similar music: Winner: CKXU – Yes B’y, Pauline and Derek + Friendly the Newfoundland Dog!
2026 CRABO Award Runner Ups:
- Current Affairs or Magazine Show – Runner Up: Radio Sidney, Alt Election 2025: Live Coast-to-Coast Federal Election Coverage
- Excellence in Interview Storytelling – CiTR, House of Mulan
- Experimental – Runner Up: CFUV, TRUE PEAKS
- Music: Rock or similar music – Runner Up: CFEP, Late Nights with John
- Community Engagement – Runner Up: CFRU
- Syndicated Radio Show – Runner Up: When We Wake with Andrew Shaver
- Excellence in Student Programming – Runner Up: CIVL, Closer Than You Think (UFV SOC 399)
- Music: Alternative or similar music – Runner Up: CJSW, Airwaves N’ Eardrums
- “OUT LOUD” Best in LGBT+ Programming – Runner Up: CJSF 90.1FM Burnaby, Typically Tuesdays: 2SLGBTQ+ Manga
- Breaking Barriers – Runner Up: CiTR 101.9, Germ Girl
- Creative Production – Runner Up: CKRK K103.7, CKRK Imaging
- Music: Variety Program – Runner Up: CFRU, Power Up! With Electrified Voltage
Congratulations to all the winners and the runner ups, a big thank you to the judges and everyone who participated and supported this year’s awards. You can see the winner announcements and some of their acceptance speeches on our social media: https://www.instagram.com/ncraanrec. Our awards website, https://awards.ncra.ca/ will be updated soon so you can checkout the winners submissions and also past year’s winners
-Eloisa Veliz, Marketing and Outreach Coordinator
