ACTION ITEM: Saskatoon radio station using anti-Ukrainian
racial stereotyping

December 22, 2005 -- Saskatoon resident George Foty has asked for the assistance of Saskatchewan’s Ukrainian community to stop the use of offensive and derogatory humour on Saskatoon’s CJWW radio. Please see below.

Hello, Ukrainski Aktyvisty out there:

Wednesday was the third consecutive day that I heard CJWW play that pitiful "Metro" version of the "12 Days of Christmas”. The play times have all been during the half hour prior to noon.

CJWW cannot be unaware that the DJ is playing material that is offensive, yet it has shown no interest in explaining this situation. It appears that they have little respect for Ukrainians and apparently no concern for possible consequences.

I intend to lodge a personal complaint with the Human Rights Commission. In the past the Commission has come to the defence of visible minorities, Aboriginals and Jews. I expect that they will also speak in defence of Ukrainian Canadians. For this to occur, however, I think it will probably be necessary for our community to take a public stance on the offensive "ethnic humour" that Metro and others like him have been peddling.

(Regrettably, it appears that there are some of our own people who are assisting in the dissemination of this “humour”. Although individual reasons for this may vary, the majority probably feels compelled to pretend to “enjoy” such “jokes" as the price they have to pay for acceptance in Canadian society. This despite the fact that such "Ukrainian humour" mocks their Ukrainian heritage and depicts Ukrainians as stupid, crude and repulsive louts. This "humour" is largely responsible for the all-too-common inferiority complex plaguing many members in our community.)

If the latest outbreak of this despicable “humour” is not challenged, I fear that the legitimacy provided by CJWW (and perhaps other stations which are playing such stuff) will embolden the perpetrators of "Ukrainian humour", who are now mostly snickering in the background. An “open season” on Ukrainians will make the efforts to instil pride of things Ukrainian in our youth extremely difficult.

I hope that the Ukrainian Community will not allow the culprits inflicting such derogatory “humour” on us to go unchallenged.

George Foty

You can let the people of 600 AM CJWW radio know that you find this type of racial stereotyping offensive and inappropriate by emailing them at cjww.radio@sasktel.net or call the General Manager Ken McFarlane at 306.244.1975 or fax your letter to 306.665.5501.

The incidents can also be reported to the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council, which administers several codes on behalf of Canada's private broadcasters on issues covering: violence on television; the portrayal of men and women; fairness and accuracy in news; controversial public discussion and human rights. They can be contacted at:

Canadian Broadcast Standards Council
Box 3265, Station D
Ottawa ON K1P 6H8
Fax: 613.233.4826
Tel. 613.233.4607
Email: complaints@cbsc.ca