2018/11/14 (Wednesday)
This year, Fairchild Radio’s Spanish speaking program Latino Soy celebrates 25 years on the airwaves. Hosted by Chilean native, Eduardo Olivares, Latino Soy has served the Latin American communities of Greater Vancouver in a number of different ways from helping new immigrants settle into their new life in Canada, to giving new artists the chance to share their work. In addition, Eduardo has helped raise thousands of dollars for various causes in Latin America. Whether it be relief for a natural disaster or building a school in a poor rural area, the team at Latino Soy is always ready to step up to the plate to help those in need, guided by Eduardo.
Eduardo Olivares in Chile in 1968 |
Eduardo was born in the small town of Ovalle, 500 kilometres north of Chile’s capital Santiago. As a young man in his twenties he began his radio career working in a radio station as a freelancer. It was the early sixties and Chili was steeped in political turmoil until 1973 when a coup détat overthrew the government and dictator Pinochet came to power. Under the new regime the radio station that Eduardo worked for was deemed “illegal” and he was subsequently imprisoned and tortured.
Exile followed and in 1978 along with his family, Eduardo arrived in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan where his desire to continue in radio broadcasting never dissipated. When he arrived in Vancouver in 1993, he was a father of four, grandfather of 13 and great grandfather of 16! He was encouraged by his family and friends to start up a Spanish speaking radio program aimed at integrating the various communities of the different countries of Latin America. Thus, Latino Soy was born, which means I am Latino.
The early days at 96.1FM at Fairchild Radio on Cambie Street with DJ Gary |
Latino Soy first started out on AM1470 CJVB, sister station to 96.1FM CHKG, which is where the show can now be heard every Monday to Friday from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Eduardo’s original vision of integrating a very diverse and rapidly growing and evolving Latin American community made up of many countries has certainly manifested and in doing so has enriched the lives of many over the years.
Besides promoting and celebrating Latin American cultural roots and values with contemporary and traditional music genres, Latino Soy also promotes its ever evolving and developing community’s wide range of activities in all fields of endeavors and initiatives including education, sports, culture and politics. In addition, the team at Latino Soy puts on a festival every year in Vancouver which showcases local Latin talent and brings the community together for food, music and fun. This year’s event takes place at the Alpen Club on Saturday, November 24th.
Latino Soy Festival |
Latino Soy has also been instrumental in bringing together this ethnic community by instilling awareness and ongoing solidarity in the helping of poorer countries back home, which sporadically go through natural disasters and other debilitating turmoil.
By itself and alongside many organizations with similar aims and objectives, Latino Soy has, since its inception, raised support and aid for disaster relief to numerous people in various regions of Latin America.
Eduardo awarded with the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal (shown with daughter Ivania) |
In 2002, Eduardo’s outstanding efforts were recognized when Governor General Adrienne Clarkson presented him with the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, awarded to Canadians who are exemplary in their service to others. Since he began his Vancouver radio program 25 years ago, Eduardo and his team have helped raise money to aid flood victims in El Salvador, hurricane victims in Honduras, children in need of schools and hospitals in Guatemala, and people in need of medical supplies in wartorn Columbia.
Eduardo has expressed on several occasions that "Radio or any form of media’s main goal should be dedicated in some form or another to helping one's community, its development and its people." Today, after 25 years of doing community radio, this sentiment still rings powerfully true.
To find out more about Latino Soy check out their Facebook Page here or listen to Latino Soy on 96.1FM Monday to Friday from 11 AM to 1 PM.
Some members of the Latino Soy team |
In addition to having worked with some prominent Latin American Organizations in Vancouver, including PCSur/Vancouver South Cultural Project (PSur), Vancouver Latin American Cultural Centre (VLACC), LatinAmerican Cultural Centre of BC (LACC BC), Celsan Vancouver, Spanglish and more, here are just some of the groups that put on fundraisers which Latino Soy was involved over the years:
2024/03/29World Shuffle Playlist
2024/03/20Party for the Planet
2024/03/20Zakir Hussein Trio
2024/03/07R2R Festival for Youth
2024/03/06Naad Arts Festival 2024
2024/02/21Festival Du Bois 2024
2024/01/24Black History Month at VIFF
2023/12/01Coastal Jazz Liven Up!
2023/08/01Polish Festival
2023/08/01Music and Meditation Fest
2023/07/27Latinos Honor Eduardo O.
2023/07/20Powell Street Festival
2023/06/16Greek Summerfest
2023/06/15VI-CO Concert
2023/06/07Bard on the Beach
2023/06/07Talking Stick Festival
2023/04/07Celebrate Cinco de Mayo!
2023/03/30Gamelan Gita Asmara
2023/03/06Music and Meditation Event
2023/02/23Reel 2 Real Film Fest
2023/02/13Naad Arts Festival 2023
2023/01/20Masters of Percussion
2023/01/11Outside/In
2023/01/11Farewell Eduardo Olivares
2023/01/10Dakhabraka from Ukraine
2022/09/22Global Peace Festival
2022/09/15Vancity Reggae Festival
2022/09/02Mushtari Begum Festival
2022/08/22Disability Job Fair
2022/07/17Music and Meditation Fest