Long before the arrival of the internet, and the concept of what is now known as MOOC’s (massive open online content), and long before television, the University of Alberta established it’s own radio station to provide distance learning courses to people in the province.
Although the idea of correspondance courses for “distance learning” was far from new, CKUA ( Canada K University Alberta) radio came about as some of the professors saw the new medium of radio as an opportunity to provide university courses to residents who otherwise couldn’t come to the university or couldn’t afford it.
It licence was granted to the university’s extension department as the first public broadcaster in Canada.
University president Henry Marshall Tory said of the new station, “he work carried on by us will be of a purely educational character.”
On November 21 CKUA, went on the air broadcasting only during the school year, September through June originating from studios on the second floor of the old University of Alberta engineering building.
Over the next decade broadcasts tended toward classical music, lectures and historical dramas, but also included formal courses and live broadcasts of sporting events, and agricultural lectures.
Through many trials and tribulations and financial hardships, and programming changes and directions, CKUA exists today and is considered a valuable asset to the provinces cultural scene promoting local artists in a variety of disciplines.
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