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Eduardo Olivares: 25 Years of Latino Soy!

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.

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.

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.  

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: