The beautiful background image you are looking at is a cropped version of a 1940 oil painting by Hector MacLean Angus, recently donated to Touchstones Nelson Museum of Art and History. Featured dead centre is what is now KCR.

At the time, the building was occupied by the Sing Chung Laundry, which had been operating in the building since its construction in 1905. We’ve been told that the business’s original Chinese name roughly translates as “laundry of infinite achievements”, which makes it seem entirely plausible that it would have eventually evolved into a cooperative radio station.

Looking at this image, it’s incredible to think about how much has changed. The area was once Nelson’s Chinatown, and red light district. Now it’s home to the Nelson and District Youth Centre, various businesses, residents, and of course, us.

You can help KCR avoid becoming a piece of Nelson history by making a financial contribution TODAY!

Donate to KCR