The Frequency

This week on MorningFile, Campus Media Content Coordinator George Elchuk speaks with Margaret Qin, a McMaster student who has grown from selling her own work at local markets into organizing community events across Hamilton.

Margaret talks about how vending at Art Crawl first pushed her outside the McMaster bubble and introduced her to Hamilton’s arts and culture community. From there, she created Grind Market on campus, organized King William Comes Alive, brought student vendors to Supercrawl and began managing live music projects with DJ’s Flying Circus.

The conversation explores what it actually takes to make that transition from student to community organizer: pitching ideas, navigating city systems, building relationships, dealing with nerves and learning how to run events without having a formal background in event planning.

George and Margaret also discuss why students can feel disconnected from Hamilton, and how getting involved in the city can turn McMaster from a place you attend school into a community you are genuinely part of.

This week on MorningFile, Campus Media Content Coordinator George Elchuk speaks with Nnamdi Nnake, a PhD candidate and SSHRC doctoral research fellow at McMaster University, about his research into the history of communication technology in Nigeria.

Nnake is also the curator of Connected Histories: The Telegraph in Nigeria, a new exhibition at the McMaster Museum of Art. The exhibition explores how telegraph technology became intertwined with colonial governance, commerce, transportation and everyday life in Nigeria, while also highlighting the people whose labour kept the network functioning.

George and Nnamdi discuss how the telegraph arrived in Nigeria, how it reshaped communication and infrastructure, and why photographs can reveal parts of history that written records often overlook. They also explore the work of linemen, operators and other workers behind the system, the evolution of telegraphy into later technologies like radio, and why understanding the unseen labour behind technology still matters today.

Connected Histories: The Telegraph in Nigeria is on display at the McMaster Museum of Art until Dec. 4. Admission is free.

This week on MorningFile, Campus Media Content Coordinator George Elchuk sits down with Andrew Mrozowski, Executive Editor of The Silhouette, and Declan Withers, Editor-in-Chief of The Silhouette, to talk about student media and the year ahead at McMaster.

Andrew and Declan discuss what The Silhouette does, how the organization has evolved, and the role student journalism plays in covering issues that might otherwise go underreported.

The conversation also looks at some of the biggest issues facing McMaster students this year, including OSAP cuts, the MSU’s proposed collective action policy, student organizing, Bill 33, municipal politics and the growing level of political engagement on campus.

They also look ahead to what The Silhouette will be watching this year, from the municipal election and MSU politics to the unexpected stories that inevitably shape campus life.

This week on MorningFile, Campus Media Content Coordinator George Elchuk sits down with Hamilton artist James Gummerson to talk about painting the city, finding beauty in ordinary places and the role memory plays in his work.

Gummerson’s paintings often focus on familiar Hamilton streets, storefronts, alleys and neighbourhood scenes — places people may pass every day without giving them a second look. He discusses how he uses light, colour, texture and deliberately unresolved details to capture not only what a place looks like, but how it feels.

George and James also talk about his creative process, his transition from illustration to fine art, finding your voice as an artist and why familiar places can carry such powerful personal memories.

Gummerson also previews a new body of work coming to Earl’s Court Gallery in November.

This week on The Spotlight, CFMU Programming Director Jamie Tennant speaks with Tim Potocic, Owner and President of Sonic Unyon, and Lisa LaRocca, Festival Director, about Supercrawl, taking place on James Street North from Sept. 11 to 13.

Tim and Lisa discuss the history of Sonic Unyon, the early days of Supercrawl and how the festival has grown into one of Hamilton’s biggest arts and culture events. They also share what goes into organizing a festival of this scale, from curating vendors and local businesses to building a lineup that reflects Hamilton’s music and creative communities.

The conversation also looks ahead to this year’s festival, including live music, visual art, fashion, comedy, food trucks, family programming and new additions like mahjong lessons and a monster truck appearance.

Supercrawl is free to attend. More information is available at supercrawl.ca.

This week on MorningFile, Campus Media Content Coordinator George Elchuk speaks with Lindsay Puttycomb of Puttycomb Farms in Winona, Ontario.

Puttycomb Farms has been in Lindsay’s family since 1797. Today, the eighth-generation farm grows tender fruit and grapes, operates a winery and cidery, and welcomes visitors through pick-your-own experiences, farm tours, a market, bakery, café and gift shop.

With local produce in season and the Winona Peach Festival approaching, Lindsay shares what life on the farm is really like, from the history of her family’s land to the day-to-day work of growing peaches, cherries, grapes and other fruit in Ontario.

George and Lindsay also discuss the farm’s role in the Winona community, how farming has changed over generations, what makes Ontario fruit and wine unique, and how to pick the perfect peach.

This week on MorningFile, Campus Media Content Coordinator George Elchuk speaks with Juliana Casimiri, executive director of Green Venture, a Hamilton non-profit working to inspire and equip residents to take action on climate change, environmental preservation and community resilience.

The conversation comes during Green Venture’s Stormwater Week, which encourages Hamilton residents to learn how everyday actions like disconnecting downspouts, installing rain barrels, planting rain gardens and adding green infrastructure can help reduce runoff and ease pressure on the city’s stormwater system.

Juliana discusses why stormwater management is becoming increasingly important, how climate change and heavier rainfall affect Hamilton, and what residents can do on their own properties to support a more sustainable city. She also shares what drives her passion for environmental work, the importance of community action and how Hamiltonians can get involved with Green Venture.

Learn more at greenventure.ca.

This week on Morningfile, George sits down with Hamilton musician and Full Noon Fest organizer Neil Haverty to talk about bringing live music into unexpected spaces across the city.

Neil shares the story behind Full Noon Fest, a free outdoor indie rock series taking over Ferguson Station on Saturdays throughout August, and reflects on the DIY music culture that shaped him as a young musician in Hamilton. The conversation expands into the importance of creating and experiencing art in real life, breaking down barriers around making music, and the role live music can play in building community and giving people a stronger connection to their city.

They also talk about Neil’s career with Bruce Peninsula, his work as a film composer, returning to Hamilton after two decades in Toronto, and why sometimes the best thing you can do is call your friends and start making something together.

This week on Morningfile, George continues his conversations with the McMaster Students Union Board of Directors, sitting down with MSU President Mariam Saleem and Vice-President (Education) Aisha Mahmoud.

Mariam and Aisha break down their roles within the MSU, the priorities they’re bringing into the 2026–27 academic year, and some of the major issues facing students, including affordability, changes to OSAP, Bill 33 and academic accommodations. They also discuss the MSU’s ongoing challenge of making sure students understand the services and opportunities available to them, rebuilding student engagement after COVID and getting more students involved in campus life and advocacy.

This week on MorningFile, Campus Media Content Coordinator George Elchuk speaks with Arya Ebadi, the McMaster Students Union’s Vice-President (Administration), and Will Tremblay, the MSU’s Vice-President (Finance).

As part of a two-episode series introducing the MSU Board of Directors, Arya and Will discuss their roles, how the MSU supports student life and what their priorities are for the 2026-27 academic year.

Will shares more about his approach to financial responsibility, cost and revenue optimization, and the work behind making sure student dollars are spent effectively. Arya discusses his plans to improve training for MSU student leaders, increase awareness of MSU services and continue work on the organization’s collective action policy.

Together, they offer a look at how the MSU’s internal work shapes the student experience at McMaster.