Clearview Community Radio has been granted its broadcast licence.
The station will broadcast as CKAW 90.1 FM in September.
Sandra and Steve Green applied in October for a broadcasting licence to operate a low-power, English-language developmental community FM radio station in Creemore. It was approved by the CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) on July 16.
The 5-watt not-for-profit station, run by a board of directors, is approved to broadcast 126 hours of programming each broadcast week reflecting the needs and interests of the community through spoken word programming, local information and new music from local talent, not generally broadcast on commercial radio stations.
“We want to thank everyone,especially Creemore for all the support. We can’t wait to do what we said we’ve wanted to do and make this community really special by having a radio station,” said Sandra.
As per its licence, the station will provide access for community members. Clearview Community Radio will recruit, develop and broadcast local on-air talent and produce programming in partnership with community groups that would reflect community interests and all residents of Clearview. It will promote opportunities for youth and other community members to volunteer in the operations of the station. It would provide training guidelines for volunteers and recruit skilled professionals for ongoing training and supervision purposes.
“This is community radio so we don’t call the shots, the community does,” said Sandra.
A public meeting is planned for Tuesday, August 11. People are invited to share ideas and get involved. They can sign up to work behind the scenes, at the organization level or on air.
Meetings with key stakeholders will take place before the public meeting.
“There is lots if interest in programming we just have to make it happen,” said Sandra.
She said training and equipment will be available to help people create programs.
“They can do what they want with it and then we broadcast it,” said Sandra. “We put some parameters in place and then they do what they want with it.”
Clearview Community Radio has been collecting and generating local content in the form of interviews and recording music. It has been broadcasting online since the fall.
They are hoping to set up a studio in Creemore where digital, media and youth programming can take place.
The Greens have also been given approval by Clearview Township council to record its meetings. They will be broadcast live on Monday nights when council sits and rebroadcast the next morning.
The public meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 11 at Station on the Green in Creemore.
CKAW is now live-streamed at www.clearviewcommunityradio.org.