Toronto, ON — CIVL- FM received multiple national recognitions this week during the 2026 Community Radio Awards of Broadcasting Excellence (CRABOs), held at the CBC Broadcast Centre in Toronto as part of NCRC44 and Radiodays North America.

CIVL volunteer Eric Smeysters (Ask Opa) received the National Campus and Community Radio Association’s (NCRA/ANREC) Volunteer of the Year Award during the May 6 gala ceremony, marking a record third time in five years that a CIVL volunteer has received the national honour since 2022. CIVL itself was also recognized this week with the organization’s national Community Engagement Award. (Awards show images and other conference clips here)

The awards were presented during a week-long gathering connecting campus, community, Indigenous, public, and independent media organizations alongside leaders in radio, journalism, podcasting, regulation, and audio production from across Canada and internationally.

Conference programming included participation from organizations and speakers connected to Democracy Now!, Canadaland, NPR, the CRTC, Music Canada, commercial broadcasters, podcast networks, and independent media organizations. The week featured a private NCRA screening of Amy Goodman’s new documentary “Steal This Story, Please!”, discussions surrounding AI and the future of audio media, and broader conversations about sustainability, regulation, and the future of independent and community broadcasting in Canada.

“These conversations weren’t theoretical,” Levy added. “There’s growing awareness across the sector that community broadcasting remains culturally important, but the financial and structural realities are becoming more difficult.”

CIVL representatives attending the conference also participated in networking and media events throughout the week involving broadcasters, journalists, creators, and industry leaders from across the Canadian and international audio sector, including Amy Goodman, Vassy Kapelos, Ben Mulroney, Russell Peters, and representatives from the Community Radio Fund of Canada discussing future sector initiatives and funding development.

Alongside CIVL’s documentary release announcement last week, submissions for the 11th Fraser Valley Music Awards (FVMA) are now open through June, continuing CIVL’s work supporting emerging and established artists throughout the Fraser Valley.

Community members interested in supporting CIVL’s programming, student training, and independent media initiatives can learn more at civl.ca/support.