2025 Volunteer Award Winners

| & filed under Awards, awesome, CJSR news.

Some of our vital volunteers were honoured at the CJSR’s annual Volunteer Awards.

They are some of the more than 200 people who help power the station. The ceremony was part of our volunteer appreciation party held in late September 2025.

LISTENERS’ CHOICE

200+ community members completed our listener survey, casting their votes for who should take home the golden record for the five listener choice categories:

Award named in honour of David Finkelman
He was a member of the local band, Energetic Action, and shared his vast knowledge of music on his weekly CJSR show “Big A little a” and co-host of “The Darkness of My Soul”. David was tragically killed on January 27, 2014 when he was struck by a distracted driver. He was 27.

 

 

 

 

 

STAFF PICKS

The folks who welcome and support our volunteers, the CJSR staff, handpicked the winners for these seven awards: 

  • Gary McGowan Veteran Volunteer of the Year Award
    Winner: TALL BRIAN

Award named in honour of Gary McGowan
Former Program Manager Gary McGowan was an essential part of CJSR securing our FM license back in the 1980s, and we couldn’t be here today without his efforts. Gary passed away in 2008. We remember Gary with this award.

 

  • Rookie Volunteer of the Year Award
    Winner: RYAN HENDREN

 

  • Bob Brophy Award for Excellence In Production
    Winner: ZAC BENDERA

Award named in honour of Bob Brophy
Bob was a fixture around CJSR’s production booths. Bob came to CJSR as a retiree, looking to learn about editing and production. Bob learned all the ins and outs of audio production at CJSR, over the years his voice was heard across countless ads, promos and as the voice of our FoundByte archival programs. Bob passed away in 2014. We remember his can-do attitude and warm presence with this award. 

 

  • The Boomerang Award
    Winner: MIKE BERRY

A special way to welcome back Mike who volunteered with CJSR before he moved to Australia but couldn’t stay away, so moved back and began contributing to the station again.

 

  • Digitizer of the Year
    Winner: WILL SEMENIUK

A very valuable volunteer task, helping to create digital versions of all the music sent into the station for use across programming.

 

  • Most Reliable Fill-In
    Winner: SCOTT MARICIAK

 

A show and its crew of volunteers who raised the most funds during the most recent fundraiser.

 

Thanks to everyone who contributes to CJSR, on and off air. Volunteers are at the heart of what we do. 

If you’d like to volunteer with us, as DJ or researcher, board member or elsewhere, you can apply today.

Volunteer

CJSR runs on volunteer labour and couldn’t exist without it.

Show your support by pitching in.

Volunteer with CJSR