For Immediate Release
The National Campus and Community Radio Association (NCRA/ANREC) and Farm Radio International (FRI), among others, to celebrate World Radio Day event in Ottawa.
OTTAWA, ON.- January 10th, 2026 – On February 12th, join us once again to celebrate World Radio Day together, as we host our third World Radio Day event.
This year’s UNESCO theme is Radio and AI, “Today Artificial Intelligence (AI) opens a new chapter: not just for innovation but for deepening their bond with listeners. When used ethically and responsibly to support professional judgement, creativity and public service values, AI can become an ally in strengthening audience trust. Technology alone does not build trust. Radio broadcasters do.”
We can all agree that radio continues to play an essential part in everyday life. We rely on it to learn what is happening in our communities, when disaster strikes, to educate us on important topics, to showcase music or to connect to the community around us.
On actual World Radio day, February 13th, the NCRA/ANREC will be sharing a National Shout-Out Campaign, where stations all over the world will be able to share pre-recorded audio messages from other countries to celebrate World Radio Day together. We are not only celebrating the diversity and vitality of community and campus radio in Canada but also around the world. The campaign reinforces radio’s essential role in community connection, emergency response, education, and storytelling.
Whether it’s your favourite local radio station, campus radio, public broadcast, or a special program that will be streamed live that day, we want as many people as possible to tune in to show support for radio and its daily impact.
“Artificial intelligence is reshaping how Canadians access information, and community radio plays a vital role in ensuring that transformation remains ethical, local, and human-centred. This World Radio Day, we reaffirm that AI should strengthen—not replace—the trusted voices that serve our communities every day.” says Barry Rooke, Executive Director for the NCRA/ANREC
“In sub-Saharan Africa, radio is the world’s most accessible and popular communication service. When combined with mobile phones, which allow farmers to share their own stories on the airwaves, it brings lasting change for some of the world’s most vulnerable people—small-scale farmers in rural Africa,” says Kevin Perkins, Executive Director of Farm Radio International. “By sharing knowledge, amplifying farmers’ voices, and supporting better practices, audio has the power to reduce food insecurity, improve health and nutrition, and plant the seeds for long-term positive change.”
In 2023, Farm Radio International directly reached an estimated 24.1 million people with life-changing audio services over the airwaves, enabling about 5 million to make a positive change.
The in-person event will be taking place in Ottawa, ON. February 12th, 2026 on Sir John A. Macdonald Building, Room 200 (144 Wellington St, Ottawa) from 8:30 to 10am.
About Campus and Community Radio Associations Across Canada
- The Association des radiodiffuseurs communautaires du Québec (ARCQ)
- The Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada (ARCC)
- The National Campus and Community Radio Association/Association nationale des radios étudiantes et communautaires (NCRA/ANREC)
- The Community Radio Fund of Canada (CRFC
The ARCQ, ARCC, and NCRA/ANREC collectively represent 84 percent of Canada’s approximately 200 licensed campus and community radio broadcasters. The CRFC/FCRC distributes support on behalf of commercial broadcasters, the federal government, and private foundations to more than 235 eligible community, Indigenous, and campus stations.
About FRI
Farm Radio International is an award-winning Canadian communications-for-development organization that harnesses the power of radio and partnerships to serve African farming families and communities. By working with existing radio stations across Africa, we reach tens of millions of small-scale farmers with life-changing information and provide opportunities for their voices to be heard. Visit www.farmradio.org to learn how radio is seeding change.
For More Information:
Blair Amyotte, Digital Marketing Specialist of Farm Radio International
Barry Rooke, Executive Director of the NCRA/ANREC
1.866.859.8086 / (613) 321.1440*2
