Mike Farwell, 106.7 Country morning show co-host
You may not have ever met Mike Farwell in person but if you live in Waterloo Region, odds are you’ve heard him. Mike has been all over the local airwaves for years, talking current events and life’s amusements on Country 106.7; talking all kinds of sports at Sportsnet 590 The Fan; talking Junior-A hockey on 570 News (he’s the colour commentary guy for the Kitchener Rangers); and behind the mic at countless fundraisers and events as emcee. And what you hear, no matter the topic, is a man with genuine passion, who cares about his community. And he is often funny, which is a crowd pleaser.
Mike recently joined the Country 106.7 morning show as co-host, where he has “to get up before the crack of stupid” each day. The show is decidedly local – listen to a recent segment of the show where he and his co-host are talking about Herrle’s Market white pumpkins, which is pretty darn local.
Different from his previous talk radio experience where he had to talk non-stop for hours, this music-format show is challenging. “You have to make the absolute most of the talk time you get,” says Mike. “Sure, you get a few minutes while songs are playing to gather your thoughts, but that 3-7 minutes can feel like an eternity in radio, but it’s a heck of a lot of fun.”
Cracking the mic
Mike has been on the air in one format or another since 1995 and each time, it still feels like it’s a magical experience. “I love the glow of the on-air light and I still get a tiny rush whenever I crack the mic,” he says. “Every doggone time.”
Mike and his KPL pals, trustee Erin Rudland and development manager Ann Andrusyszyn
Mike says the majority of his interactions with listeners have been positive. “There is no better feeling than getting an email or running into someone later in the day who reminds you of something that was said during your broadcast,” he says. “You get to be part of someone’s day and connect with them. How cool is that?” The chance to impact someone, and hopefully in a positive way, is what keeps him going.
If you haven’t heard Mike on the radio or been at an event he’s emceed, you’ve likely read his words on the Kitchener Post or on Twitter. Mike has an ever-present presence on social media and uses it as a vehicle to build a sense of community and engage #wrawesome in conversations of all kinds. “I make a conscious effort to build community through social media,” says Mike. “While I will criticize or complain from time to time, I use it as an extension of myself; positive thoughts, positive outcomes, right?” [See, he is a nice guy, Ed.]
Outside of radio, Mike is a man-about-town, involved in Oktoberfest, the Kitchener Public Library, and Cystic Fibrosis Canada, plus many others. And you might bump into him seeing live music, a play or a lecture. And of course, you can find him most Friday nights at the Aud, home of the Kitchener Rangers [Go Rangers Go].
P.S. Mike’s favourite topic of conversation: politics.
Red leather booth 