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Canadian Spaces
Saturday March 14th, 2015 with Mike Regenstreif, Lynne Hanson and Chris White
2nd annual tribute to Chopper McKinnon

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Mike Regenstreif and Lynne Hanson join Chris White to host the second annual tribute to the late, great Chopper McKinnon (1946-2013). Chopper founded Canadian Spaces in 1980 and hosted the program for 33 years. He believed passionately in the quality of Canadian folk music, and gave airplay and encouragement to countless artists from across the country and beyond. Last year's tribute to Chopper was co-hosted by Lynn Miles. You can listen to that show in the CKCU audio archive at http://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/129/16143.html
Ain’t Life a Brook
Ferron - Testimony - Cherrywood Station
I Can See You Now
Bruce Murdoch - Matters of the Heart - Bruce Murdoch
Crossties on a Railroad
Bill Garrett - Bill Garrett - Borealis
Drunks and Fools
Lynn Miles - Black Flowers Vol. 3 - Lynn Miles
I Love You More Than God
Ron Hynes - Stealing Genius - Borealis
Winter
Connie Kaldor - Love is a Truck - Coyote
I Remember You
Roy Forbes - Some Tunes for that Mother of Mine - AKA
My Buddy
Missy Burgess - Pour Me a Song - Patio Records
The Parting Glass
Stephen Fearing - That’s How I Walk - True North
Who Will Sing for Me?
Finest Kind - Heart’s Delight - Fallen Angle
The Mary Ellen Carter
Stan Rogers - Between the Breaks…Live! - Fogarty’s Cove/Borealis
A Good Finish
Tony Turner - Live in the studio
Chopper’s Room
Melwood Cutlery - Live recording from Irene's Pub
Circle of Friends
Sneezy Waters - Sneezy Waters - Sneezy Waters
The Way to Go Home
Hannah Shira Naiman - Tether My Heart - Merriweather
Me and Mrs. Parker
Bob Stark - Life on a Postcard - Bob Stark
This Too Shall Pass
Lynne Hanson - Live in the studio
Interactive CKCU
Irene's Pub
Stop by and have a drink with him at The Pub sometime. He's always there.

6:37 PM, March 9th, 2015
Stephen Fearing
Miss you Chopper. Thanks for championing us all for so many years.

6:57 PM, March 9th, 2015
Shelley Ann Morris
Thank you Chopper for introducing me to all this great music--your legacy lives on whenever we enjoy a hot brown drink on a Saturday morning between 10:00 a.m. and noon here in Ottawa.

7:04 PM, March 9th, 2015
Bruce Murdoch
You stood up for Canadian music when it had trouble standing up for itself. You were always proud of us, Chopper, and we'll never forget you for that. Thank you.

7:48 PM, March 9th, 2015
Anthony Toner
As a 'Space Invader',the first time I ever had a song played on Canadian radio, Chopper was the man at the controls - and we were mutual fans from the word go. I was (and remain) thrilled by that, and it's still hard to think of him not being there.

7:54 PM, March 9th, 2015
Dean Verger
I grew up when Canadian artists were ignored by commercial radio; during the time when the CRTC had to make the stations play at least some of their music. And then for me to be able to listen to a morning of beautiful music, created by interesting and exciting songwriters, interviewed by a man whose depth of knowledge of the scene was personal, oh, what a delight. Chopper may have crossed over, but his creation continues because others have believed in his love of home grown talent. I benefited from his knowledge and advice. Thank-you Mr McKinnon.

8:53 PM, March 9th, 2015
Joel LeBlanc
The first time I met chopper was when he drove the long road to Windsor with Doug McArthur because Doug was playing for me at a coffee house at St Clair College that I ran in the mid 70's. It was a good thing he came because Doug was so shy he hardly spoke until he hit the stage and then he was the funniest guy I had ever seen. I will never forget "the Power of Love" followed by Whip Me. Had us in stitches. A great introduction to Chopper as he just sat back and smiled at the antics of his friend. When I moved to Eastern Ontario in the 80"s he was always very supportive of Blue Skies and the folk shows I was producing in Perth.he was one of a kind. We miss you Chopper!

9:00 PM, March 9th, 2015
Christine Graves
My 7 year old son Felix JUST asked me today if we could go to the memorial again "for Chopper" - we were walking by the Southminster Church. I had to explain to him that that a funeral or memorial is a one time event (normally). The Canadian Spaces celebrating Chopper was great last year and Felix heard it as well in the car on our way to Oscar Graff's birthday celebration in Perth. Thanks Chris, Lynn et al. I think the memories of the live event in that beautiful space at Southminster made a huge impression on Felix. As did a meal at Irene's following where he met face to face many a character from the galaxy that was Chopper. At that time, emotions of losing Chopper were still raw and made for vibrancy. A little boy who didn't know Chopper certainly felt it; He proved it by asking me about Chopper today. Here is to everyone who could be there back in 2013 and to a great show on Canadian Spaces in 2014. May Saturday March 14, 2015 keep the memories alive! We are not rich in mutual funds but we are rich in mutual friends! Thanks Chopper!

10:20 PM, March 9th, 2015
Missy Burgess
I do not think of Chopper as gone - he's in every song I write, every fear I have to write another song, every tentative moment on stage, every memory of him believing that Canadian music must and needs to be heard, and most of all, how proud he is of all of us. Be well, everyone.

11:27 PM, March 9th, 2015
Mike Mercer
Can't believe it's now been 2 years since we lost Chopper just like we did early this year when we lost Mark Valcour I'm sure you'll make mention of it again at the 40th Anniversary of CKCU comming up.

6:20 AM, March 10th, 2015
Lynne Hanson
Was always such a thrill to drop by the CKCU studio and chat on a Saturday morning. I know you're tuning in every week to hear 40 minutes of uninterrupted folk ... you played a big part in fostering all that talent! Your legacy is going strong. Miss you Chopper!

8:16 AM, March 10th, 2015
Trevor Alguire
Chopper's unforgettable voice that brought us all together for so many years will live on through those of us that knew him and those who listened in. CKCU is what it is today because of such passionate kind souls as Mark Valcour and Chopper McKinnon and we are forever grateful.

10:04 AM, March 10th, 2015
Connie Kaldor
Chopper loved the music. He dedicated his energy towards it thriving in his community. Although he was Mr Folk, MC-ing events, playing the music every week on his program, and enjoying the new and old performers along the way, he involved people in it all along the way. He did not view himself as the lone wolf, but as part of a grand gang of good hearted folks with that weakness for melody and words. okay and perhaps scotch. He also made sure there was a place for Canadian music, not always an easy task . He would let me sleep on his couch in the days when there wasnt enough money for a hotel room, promoted on his show any performance I had in the area. He was the one constant at any gig in the Ottawa area. He created the community for his kind of music every saturday, talking to them as if they were his best friends, and in fact I think that wasnt too far from the truth. He loved Canadian Spaces , and those that listened and without people like him, where would we have been heard?

10:43 AM, March 10th, 2015
Ron Sweetman.
We all learned so much from Chopper, particularly demonstrating a warm and caring personality on air which listeners loved. Thank you Chopper !!!

11:13 AM, March 10th, 2015
Cathy Miller
Lovely to read comments from very familiar names! I think Canadian Spaces kept Chopper going all those years, when the rest of his life might have been going down the tubes. He got as much out of doing the show as anyone else did listening to it, and those two hours of his Saturday morning were held sacrosanct to him. As for missing him, he's still found in things that come out of my mouth - "Chopperisms" I call them - "hot brown drinks", "Canadian spaces" instead of "dead air", BFRs and many others!

5:23 PM, March 10th, 2015
Joyce MacPhee
Chopper is greatly missed but he is honoured with every segment of Canadian Spaces that has aired since his passing. I am grateful to all the people who continue to make Canadian Spaces possible. Each show is a celebration of Chopper and all the things he held near and dear -- including Canadian music on a national scale and live performance on a local scale. Thanks again to Chopper for introducing me to such a wonderful universe of music and as his pal Bob Stark put it, for "always keeping the fun factor high". And bravo to all those who carry on his glorious Saturday morning tradition.

7:09 PM, March 10th, 2015
eliza gilkyson
Hey hello from way down south in texas! I am thinking about the first time I came to Ottawa to play, about how grateful I am that a few people championed my music so that I could keep coming back to your part of the world. Thanks to Chopper at CKCU I was introduced to a whole new network of friends outside the USA, especially during the Bush era when my politics and music were not exactly welcome-you guys stood by me-I will always be grateful for that…see you soon! Eliza Gilkyson

11:27 PM, March 10th, 2015
baby bro
look up ... look waaaaay up ... it's Chop Daddy ... miss ya bro

8:22 AM, March 11th, 2015
Roy Forbes
Ah Chopper. Thanks for being my friend and for being a true friend to Canadian music. When I sing 'I Remember You' at my concert in Sidney BC on Saturday night, I'll give a wee nod to ya. And, I promise, I'll try make it sound like at least six bucks. Miss you Chopper, Roy

10:41 PM, March 12th, 2015
Tony Copple
Chopper legitimized everything we show hosts do on CKCU. We are on the map thanks to him.

10:44 PM, March 12th, 2015
Janis Lockwood
So many memories. Thanks for honouring Chopper today and on every installment of Canadian Spaces.

10:17 AM, March 14th, 2015
Pat Moore
Chopper introduced me to Canadian Folk (except maybe for a few, like Gordon Lightfoot and some other Cdn Folk Superstars. I can honestly say that my playlist choice is heavily influenced by Chopper. I miss seeing him come to take over the CKCU host chair at the end of my show.

10:56 AM, March 14th, 2015
Geoff Johnson
Chopper and all the folks at Irene's pub introduced me to a whole world of music I never knew existed, and he gave me my first shot at making something of a musical endeavour. Hearing that anything i did was worth six bucks was and is the height of kudos and continued inspiration. Thanks Chop!

11:03 AM, March 14th, 2015
Mark Delorme
Chopper ,was the pulse of the folk community from coast to coast he is missed by many and hats off to chris for keeping it going Bravo Chopper

11:07 AM, March 14th, 2015
Elorious Cain
Chopper was a tremendous announcer and very kind. We miss him greatly.

11:30 AM, March 14th, 2015
Laura Smith
The greatest interview that I don't think ever happened was Peter G interviewing Chopper. To have gotten those two voices out into the world on a Canadian morning would have done more to celebrate all that is good about radio and music and art and the good people who champion it. I miss them both, bigtime. And Chris, sorry you couldnn't reach me. I didn't get your email in time to notice both the numbers you had for me were wront!! What are the chances!! I've emailed you my co-ordinates and look forward to a chat down the future. Thanks for Canadian Spaces. Chopper made Ottawa 'my' town and with folks like you and Mike, well, it'll never lose it's shine despite the...well, enough said.

11:30 AM, March 14th, 2015
Al McKinnon
Hi Chris. Thanks for honouring my brother. Today was special for me and my family. Al

11:59 AM, March 14th, 2015
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