EARLY BIRD: NIRA ARORA

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Story by JOE LEARY

The dream-shattering buzz of the morning alarm comes awfully early when you co-host a top-rated radio morning show. Such is the life of Nira Arora of Virgin Radio’s ‘Jonny, Holly and Nira,’ who starts her day at the unimaginable hour of 3:45 am.

The always upbeat broadcaster and mother of three has been a media force in Vancouver for over two decades, with a deep commitment to women, children and families in her community. But her broadcasting ambitions weren’t always embraced by those around her. “There were doubts at the beginning,” she says. “Many people didn’t understand what I was getting myself into; family members who wanted me to succeed and believed I was setting myself up for failure. Then there was the internal struggle — am I a South Asian female broadcaster or am I ‘just’ a broadcaster?” It’s a question that was resolved quickly, as Arora was warmly embraced by both the broadcasting sector and within her community.

“I really wanted to just be a ‘broadcaster’ to shed some of the limits I had been putting on myself, partly in light of the expectations of my community, and their comfort level with what I’m putting out there on live radio. But now, after much self-reflection, I proudly embrace being referred to as a South Asian broadcaster.”

“AFTER MUCH SELF-REFLECTION, I PROUDLY EMBRACE BEING REFERRED TO AS A SOUTH ASIAN BROADCASTER.”

Family is what drives Nira Arora both her own as well as her deep commitment to improving the lives of women, children and families in her community.

GETTING HER START

Despite having been a member of acting clubs in high school and university, Arora didn’t initially consider the arts as a career. “I was on my way to becoming a lawyer; the plan was in place,” she says. But the universe had other ideas. “I used to help put on culture shows in the community and would MC them and write plays and act in them,” she says. “I was approached by a local multicultural TV producer who asked if I’d be interested in pursuing television.

I was apprehensive but I knew I had to try. Everything in my gut said ‘yes.’” Arora went on to volunteer as a host/ reporter/writer/producer for a variety of TV shows while she attended Simon Fraser University and held down a part-time job.” And it was a move that led her to switch her studies to mass media communications before going on to take journalism at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. “I tried it all: on air and behind the scenes in TV, newspapers, magazines and radio, and fell in love with the latter. That feeling of live radio is unlike anything else — it just can’t be matched.”

“THAT FEELING OF LIVE RADIO IS UNLIKE ANYTHING ELSE — IT JUST CAN’T BE MATCHED.”

GIVING BACK

As she established herself on the airwaves, she also became a vocal advocate for minority communities, becoming actively involved in a charitable initiative for Options Community Services, a $1.5 million affordable housing project in Surrey.” “It’s an amazing cause to aid women fleeing domestic violence, refugees with nothing to their name, people who have suffered from addiction or mental health issues who can finally get ahead if given the chance, and children in the foster care program that somehow got lost in the system,” Arora says.

“GIVING BACK TO OTHERS IS A SURE WAY TO GIVE YOUR SPIRITS A BOOST.”

“Giving back to others is a sure way to give your spirits a boost.” Juggling family alongside an itinerary that includes authoring a long-running column, and various hosting and guest speaking duties is no easy task. Undaunted, the South Surrey resident looks forward to maintaining her strong voice on the airwaves. “I understand there are many other options for listeners, but I personally feel radio is strong and alive, and there’s a sense of connection that could possibly be missing on streaming services. With radio — and morning shows specifically — there’s an opportunity to connect with the hosts; to feel that you’re a friend sitting at the table taking part in the conversation. You get to know these people and they can feel as though they’re part of your crew. You become invested, and their stories begin to mean something. They hopefully make you laugh, smile, cry, and question your own thoughts and opinions. This is still enticing to me and many others.”