Vernon non-profit radio station granted licence

Sep 2, 2020 | 3:45 PM

A non-profit society has received federal approval for a licence to operate a volunteer-driven, community FM radio station in Vernon.

The Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission gave the go ahead for CFAV-FM which will go by the name of 97.9 Valley FM.

“In light of the above, and given the nature of the proposed service, the Commission finds that the proposed community station would not have an undue negative financial impact on existing stations in the market (CJIB FM/1075 Beach Radio owned by the Jim Pattison Group, and Sun FM owned by Bell Media),” the CRTC ruled.

Gord Leighton, chair of the Vernon Community Radio Society, said the commission found the Vernon radio market cannot support an additional commercial radio station.

“However, given that community stations generally do not raise concerns pertaining to commercial impact, the licence for the community station was granted,” Leighton said.

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“We are thrilled to finally receive the go ahead and get started,” he added. “Our board has worked hard over the past two years to get this project off the ground and now that we have a licence the real work begins with fundraising, volunteer recruitment and creation of the station both on and off the air.”

Leighton, a former general manager of Sun FM and a veteran of the broadcasting industry, said programming on Valley FM will consist of spoken word, news, and a mix of music genres.

“Local musicians, guests and community content will play a large part in the programming featured on the station,” he said.

Leighton told Vernon Matters he hopes to have the station on the air by 2021.

For more information on volunteering, or ways you can donate, visit the radio station’s website.

by Pete McIntyre

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