By Darren Lum
Canoe FM’s Patrick Monaghan celebrated his 300th show Life. It’s not something Patrick Monaghan takes for granted.
The radio announcer of the popular, award-winning Buckslide Blues Cruise show just celebrated his 300th show last week. It was a milestone he didn’t know he would make, having been told he wasn’t going to live until Christmas because of the pancreatic cancer he’s had endured for the last few years.
Right before going live last Tuesday at 7 p.m., he said, “I shut my eyes for a few seconds before I hit the button and I just said, be professional.”
There was a proverbial exhale for the radio announcer with that show, he said.
“It was almost a breath of relief. The anxiety is gone … it was a real challenge to get to 300,” he said.

Monaghan’s passion for music, particularly the blues is palpable and evident by how he sings along with the music during his show at the community radio station, located on Maple Avenue across from the A.J. LaRue Arena. He was recognized for his efforts he puts towards each of his weekly shows held Tuesdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. with the Best Jazz or Blues Music Show by the National Campus and Community Radio Association in 2020.
He said reaching 300 is on equal footing with winning that award.
“They’re both up there. Oh, they’re both up there,” he said.

His message to his listeners was thank you.
“I’m very grateful for all the people in my life that have come out to help and then make things so much easier,” he said.
Monaghan said his life with cancer has been challenging and this show will continue to give him purpose.
“Going forward, I have a reason to get up in the morning and then work away at shows and it’s not just all the medical appointments. So, it’s really been a lifeblood for me,” he said. “When I push that button [to go live] I’m okay for a couple of hours.”