Nearly 50 years after making history as Canada’s first licensed instructional campus radio station, Fanshawe College’s 106.9 The X is facing an uncertain future.
The London-based station, long celebrated as a training ground for aspiring broadcasters and journalists, may soon go silent.
The college is dealing with budget shortfalls and changes across the post-secondary education system. Fanshawe has made several difficult decisions over the past year affecting programs, staffing and resources.
In April 2025, Fanshawe confirmed it could no longer financially support the operation of The X, announcing the suspension of 40 academic programs, including Broadcasting – Radio and Media Production.
“We don’t want to lose the radio station, but we can’t continue to operate it at significant financial loss every year and without the majority of the students who participate in the operations of the station,” said Susan Cluett, senior vice-president, academic at Fanshawe College.
Cluett said that without future students in the program beyond April 2026, the college will be unable to continue funding the station.
She also addressed the current cohort of students.
“The students who are currently with us will be completing their program. We have committed to those students that their learning outcomes will be met, and they will graduate having completed the full program,” she said. “We did not bring in new students this September. Therefore, the students currently with us will complete the program and graduate. And we don’t have new students who have started with us since the suspension decisions made in college.”
Fanshawe says it is exploring options to keep 106.9 The X on the air.
Some students say they’re heartbroken by the news.
“I’ve worked on The X since my first year,” Said Emily Slagter, a Fanshawe Radio Student. “I’m very emotionally attached to it, and it’s definitely a sad situation. I connect with the London community every day through my role, and it’s hard to imagine that coming to an end. You always hope there’s another station in London that might care enough to help keep it alive.”
Fanshawe is seeking a community partner to take over the operation of the station. Interested parties are encouraged to contact Mary Harrison, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Language, Regional Campuses, & Continuing Education, at mjharrison@fanshawec.ca by November 14.
The X (Daniel Monroy – XFM)
