The last program from Radio Canada International for Brazil

The host Hector Vilar

Last broadcasts use to be melancholic for the listeners and for the hosts of the programs. And, last times, this moments are, unfortunately, more usual than they should be.

In the “good bye edition” of the program Canadá Direto, from Radio Canada International for Brazil, the director of the program, Hector Vilar, that commanded the show since its beginning, in 2004, speaks clearly about the end of the Brazilian section of the station, that decided to finish the shortwave broadcasts in all languages and terminate the Brazilian and Russian departments.

In the program, broadcasted on June 22 and reprised on June 23, Vilar was in the studio with Cristiane Hirata and Gilda Salomone (the picture, shot by Hirata, I took from the site of the program). They revisited important moments of the eight years of the show, and talket with all journalists that worked for it. They don’t have reason for not speak in clear text, and express straightly their disappointment with the decision of the government, in an important moment of the relationship between Brazil and Canada. Vilar also explains that he received the news that he would be fired, as all his Brazilian colleagues, just when his daughter was getting one month old, and stability would be important.

The end of the shortwave broadcasts from Radio Canada was news also in Radio Havana Cuba, as you can listen to in the program below, which I’ve recorded some days before by satellite.


The second recording I’ve taken from the internet site of the program, brings the moment with the hardest critics from the team.


The third recording was made in Florianópolis in the old fashion way. The very first moments in 17.860 khz and then in 15.455 khz. Unfortunately the propagation conditions weren’t as good as usual in the program (Sinpo 35333).


Best wishes for the competent team of Canadá Direto. We will miss the program.