Centre for Independent Media & Arts welcomes Vlad Jean-Gilles to 89.1 FM
December 20 2021 – With funding from BILINGUAL OTTAWA, we are developing innovative French-language programming for Ottawa-Gatineau’s Black community. We are so pleased to announce the hiring of the prolific media creator Vladimir Jean-Gilles aka Don Ayity to bring this programming to life.
“Having worked with Vlad during the launch of The Morning Shift, I can say without hesitation that his boundless energy, professionalism, and creative drive are sure to nurture an environment of like minded creators — bringing something exceptional to 89.1 FM in January,” says Station Manager Erin Flynn.
Although still in his 20s, Vlad Jean-Gilles comes with an impressive list of accomplishments. Vlad is no stranger to our airwaves. Alongside Kevin Bourne and CHUO staff, Vlad is a founding member of The Morning Shift, Ottawa’s only Hip Hop morning show. A regular columnist for CBC, Vlad will bring his radio savvy to our airwaves, shaping the sound of new programming, skill sharing, and mentoring volunteer contributors in media development and delivery. Not bound by any single platform, Vlad can be found at SHIFTER Magazine as an editor and online @BlackLenz, a passion project sharing Black film picks.
“It’s such an honor for me to be a part of this initiative. I believe that we are going to do great things for the region but also for our audience.” says Vlad Jean-Gilles “Bilingualism should be celebrated. The francophone community should be celebrated. This is ultimately what we are doing with this program.”
This year, CHUO 89.1 FM is celebrating 30 years on the FM dial. We have grown deep roots in BIPOC communities and will continue to thrive as a voice for creativity and community as we amplify these values and voices on a larger stage.
CHUO is part of CIMA-CMAI (Centre for Independent Media & the Arts/Centre pour les Arts et Médias indépendants), a not-for-profit social enterprise that offers multimedia promotions, civic media training, and houses a podcast network. We are a bilingual organization that prioritizes underrepresented voices and communities. Our core values are leadership, integrity, community, diversity, culture, and access. Across our organization, we’re building a workplace where collaboration is essential, diverse voices are heard, and inclusion is the key to our success.