JACK 96.9

JACK 96.9 (CJAX-FM 96.9 FM) in Vancouver is the kind of station where you turn on the radio and don't really think about what's coming next. Their motto, "We play what we want," sounds like marketing, but honestly, it sometimes rings true.

In fact, it's a mix of 80s and 90s hits, with random forays into the early 2000s. One hour could easily feature ZZ Top, then Madonna, followed by Nirvana or No Doubt. Sometimes I'll switch channels and catch myself thinking, "Oh, I haven't heard that song in ages," and then I don't switch any further. The music is mostly familiar and straightforward—nothing too heavy or dark. While there's far more talk than conversation, the morning broadcast is dominated by the Christy & Fraser show. It's a light, lively, no-frills conversation that helps residents wake up. And on weekends, The Saturday Afternoon Thing sets the mood—it's great to listen to on trips out of town. For me, it's not a station for discovery. Rather, it's for those days when you want something familiar and tried and true.