Lester Bear

HOST OF: Indigenous CKCU, The Bear Necessities

YEAR STARTED: 2017

I first tuned into CKCU in late 1977, back when it was the only station daring enough to blast punk over the Ottawa airwaves. Bands like the Ramones, Sex Pistols, Elvis Costello and Teenage Head weren’t just music — they were a lifeline. That raw energy pulled me in, and before long, I was part of the scene: playing in a band, visitng friends who bacame DJ’s at the station, and playing some CKCU live showcases and fundraisers.

Over time, friends who became DJs invited me into the fold. One of them asked if I’d try my hand at hosting for Indigenous CKCU — and that spark lit the fire. Soon after, Bear Necessities was born.

Through this music, I found a community in my teens that’s still with me today. CKCU was more than a station — it was the backdrop to our lives at the time. Whether we were dissecting bands that were featured on CKCU’s No Future Now, or heading to a CKCU-sponsored gig, the station was always part of the conversation.

Now, I’m proud to be the guy who spins new sounds and keeps the love for older tracks alive. Bear Necessities is about connection — to music, to memory, and to the people whoI have been riding this wave with since the beginning.