Wawatay Communications Society has announced cross-party support from several MPs asking Canadian Heritage Min. Melanie Joly to repeal the CRTC decision awarding radio licences to APTN for two stations in Ontario (Ottawa and Toronto). Wawatay says the decision disregards the sovereign rights of the Chiefs of Ontario, who supported its applications. While APTN/FPR is proposing top-forty stations, Wawatay says its programming would broadcast over 40 hours per week in-language and more than 30 hours of news. The network, which operates stations in Sioux Lookout and Timmins that repeat to 24 communities, was forced to restructure in 2015 after facing closure amidst an increasing debt load.
The CRTC has approved RNC MÉDIA’s request to amend the broadcasting license for WOW 97.1 (CHLX-FM) Gatineau by deleting the condition of license related to a 20 per cent broadcast requirement to play jazz and blues. RNC’s application indicated continued financial losses due to the non-viability of airing 20 per cent of musical selections in a different format from the rest of the programming. With jazz targeting an older audience, RNC also said it was diminishing advertisers’ interest.
The CRTC has renewed the licenses of 10 Corus Radio stations through 2024. They include Edmonton stations CHED-AM, CHQT-AM, CISN-FM, and CKNG-FM; CJOB-AM Winnipeg; CHAY-FM Barrie; CFPL-FM and CFPL-AM London; CFNY-FM Brampton; and CKDK-FM Woodstock.
The CRTC has approved an application from the Seventh-Day Adventist Church to convert its English-language religious station VOAR-AM Mount Pearl, NL to FM. The new 100,000 watt station will operate at 96.7 MHz. Seventh-Day stated that its current AM transmitter was in need of replacement and that the conversion would also help improve signal quality in the St. John’s metro area.
Vista Radio’s 94.3 the Goat (CIRX-FM) and COUNTRY 97FM (CJCI-FM) Prince George helped raise $61,113 and collected 331 Buddy Bears for the 13th annual Variety – The Children’s Charity Radiothon. The proceeds go towards mobility equipment, specialized therapy, medication, education and counseling.
SiriusXM Canada has announced its Canada 150 weekend lineup which includes the airing of the Greatest Canadian Songs of All Time on The Verge (ch.173), as voted on by Canadians. Airing July 1 on Canada Talks (ch. 167) is Creation of Our Nation with Arlene Bynon. Broadcast live from Charlottetown, PEI, she’ll be joined by special guests including former Prime Ministers Kim Campbell and Paul Martin, comedian Dave Thomas and chef Michael Smith. Comedy channel Canada Laughs (ch. 168) will be taken over by LetterKenny star K. Trevor Wilson, followed by the PB & J Canada Day Jam comedy special, paying tribute to the 150 best moments and people in Canadian comedy.
95.7 CRUZ FM (CKEA-FM) Edmonton has started an online petition to have Nickelback replace Irish rockers U2 at Canada 150 celebrations on Parliament Hill. A press release quoting morning show host Lochlin Cross says “Canada needs to step up and ensure that a Canadian band takes the stage to represent us!” As of Wednesday afternoon, the petition had fewer than 200 signatures.
