At the end of the Winter 2012 semester—literally, the day after exams ended—Sam Cook, coordinator of the Radio Broadcasting program, and Ruby Szpeflicki now a second-year radio student, went to work on a new outlet for students to get their voices heard.

Ignite Radio (.ca) is Mohawk College’s latest media venture—an internet radio station dedicated to getting new media students out of their shells and on the air.

“With things moving forward we had to ask ourselves where is radio headed? And it’s headed online,” Cook said.

“The reason we did it in the first place is to give radio students a chance to go on air and get ready for the real thing,” said Les Palango, station manager for Mohawk’s established terrestrial station, INDI 101.5 FM. Ignite is supposed to be a less intimidating first step for beginning radio and journalism students. “If they’re here [at INDI] then they’re finished over there [at Ignite]. That’s the minor leagues.”

Ignite Radio is designed to be a learning experience, but by almost any measure it is a prime broadcasting stage. “Our equipment is top of the line,” said Cook. “If you go to other stations across Ontario, we have some of the best equipment over some regular commercial radio stations.”

Torrance Mooradian in a second-year radio student. He’s experienced INDI, but is looking forward to broadcasting from Ignite for the time being. “I’m a rocker, myself. But just because I’m a rocker doesn’t mean I don’t want to do this too. INDI has a lot of listeners already, but this is brand new.”

Cook described Ignite as playing top 40 hits “for the student who loves high energy music, winning amazing prizes, and likes to know the latest gossip!”

Ignite radio began full programming this week. You can catch up with Ignite Radio at igniteradio.ca, as well as on Facebook (/igniteradio1) and Twitter (@igniteradio1). You can also stop by their contests page to check out your chances to win a trip for two to Montreal, a Staples shopping spree, and more!

While creating a radio station from scratch was tough work and made for a long summer, Ruby said, “It was [a great experience], and I loved every minute of it.”