On March 1, major Canadian radio stations will celebrate Canada with their playlists.
Canada Day may be months away, but Corus radio stations have declared March 1 as "Canadian Day," described as "a made-up holiday celebrating real national pride." Over 20 radio stations held by Corus Entertainment will all play exclusively Canadian music for the whole day.
That includes popular rock stations like the GTA's 102.1 The Edge and Q107, hot adult contemporary stations like Hamilton's Energy 95.3, and retro stations like Ottawa's Boom 99.7.
Alan Cross, the longtime host of theOngoing History of New Music, tells Billboard Canada that Canadian Day is a joint idea from the FM radio team, responding to statements about Canada south of the border.
Tensions are high between Canada and the U.S., as American President Donald Trump imposes tariffs on Canadian imports and threatens annexation of Canada, repeatedly referring to the country as the "51st state."
"We’re not a real country? We shouldn’t exist? We have no culture of of own? We want to be the 51st state? No. We are truth north strong and free. We’re celebrating that with our music," says Cross.
Those threats of illegal annexation and authoritarian takeover have led to a broader boost in Canadian cultural nationalism. Fans at some sporting events have been drowning out the American anthem and singer Chantal Kreviazuk changed the lyrics to O Canada at the 4 Nations hockey tournament final. (She sang "true patriot love / that none but us command" instead of "in all of us command.")
The Canadian Independent Music Association also pulled out of American music festival SXSW, citing instability in the U.S. and the looming tariffs, while musician Amanda Rheaume cancelled a performance at the Kennedy Center, a previously bipartisan organization that the Trump administration has taken over.
A statement on the Q107 site adds:
"Saturday, March 1st is officially Canadian Day, a made-up holiday celebrating real national pride. Join Q107 as we raise a hand, a hockey stick and the volume on your radio – because we’re going 100% Canadian!"
"There’s no need to check the labels because we’re playing your favourite songs from Canadian artists, all day long. Happy Canadian Day from Toronto’s Rock Station – Q107!"
Cross says it's easy enough to dedicate whole playlists to Canada, because the country is a global powerhouse and "music is a great way to rally the country in this time of anxiety."
"Don’t mess with Canada," he concludes. "CanCon rules."
102.1 the Edge
Here is the full list of radio stations participating in Canadian Day:
- 101.1 Big FM
- Boom 97.3
- Boom 101.9
- CFOX 99.3
- Chuck 92.5
- 1460 CJOY
- Dave Rocks
- Energy 95.3
- FM 96 London
- 93.1 Fresh Radio
- 100.5 Fresh Radio
- 103.1 Fresh Radio
- 104.3 Fresh Radio
- Jump 106.9
- Magic 106.1
- Power 97
- Q107
- Rock 101
- 91.5 the Beat
- 102.1 the Edge
- 107.3 the Edge
- 101.5 The Wolf
- Y108
